It’s time to turn 2020 around and reconnect with your mates and family at an outrageous Alice in Wonderland themed party! Where you’re involved in creating the magic!
Gather friends or family to dress up and co-create your own Mad Hatters table to link up with others to create one huge tea party!
This is a one-day festival experience including an Xstatic Sunsets dance party with live music, DJ’s, performers along with a scavenger hunt and a magical theatrical rabbit hole experience! Expect Xstatic natural highs, silliness and surprises!
But you’re not just funding an epic reconnection party, your funding an important mission and movement to improve mental health.
One night of dancing sober gave me a natural high which opened my mind to new possibilities of how to party in greater moderation to improve my mental health.
I launched Xstatic Sunsets to provide an option, an invitation for a night off the booze, but without missing out on the fun, silliness and connection.
Post-COVID, let’s reconnect in healthy and genuine ways. Vibe high on the music and the joy of connection, dance and self-expression. Just like our ancestors did before alcohol existed. It’s time to get back to our tribal roots.
Here’s an overview of the cause your funds will contribute towards, along with the event vision for the themed party you will enjoy with your friends and family if we hit our minimum target...
...And if we hit our stretch target, Xstatic Sunsets will have the funds to become a sustainable not-for-profit and expand its offering across Australia.
Thanks for your support. Let’s make this party happen (and many more to come!).
Jasper Vallance - Xstatic Sunsets Founder
Photo: The event crew at sunset on Shark Island
NEED TO KNOW:
- THIS IS AN 'AFTER' COVID FESTIVAL intended to be flexible on the date which is why we are crowdfunding it, to provide the funds up front so it's ready to be unleashed when we can party again. Light at the end of the rabbit hole to look forward to!
- IF WE DON'T HIT THE TARGET WE DON'T GET ANY FUNDS and sadly the festival won't happen. Your card will only be charged when we hit the target by the deadline.
- SAVE & GET A TABLE FOR YOUR FRIENDS - Its best value to get a table of 6 and get money back from friends once we hit the target.
- WHAT DO YOU GET? 3 music and dance stages with live music and DJ's, a huge cocreated Mad Hatters Tea Party, workshops, inspiring talks and a range of stallholders.
Line up confirmed:
MAD HATTERS STAGE
- Goldheist
Opening with the Sydney International Choir - KING TIDE
Bringing the dub and reggae vibes - Kid Kenobi
Closing set
RABBIT HOLE STAGE
- Gigi Amazonia - 5Rhythms
- Christian Ralston- Yoga Jam
- Andre Meyer- Rainbow Tribe
- Maxi McInerheney aka VibaSe - VYOMA
A MUSHROOM SURPRISE!
shh - did someone say silent disco?
A SCAVENGER HUNT?
Get lost on our theatrical adventure trail
Read more about the event vision below.
Project Mission
You're not just funding an epic after-COVID for you to reconnect with your mates or family - you are funding a movement to improve mental health.
With your financial support, Xstatic Sunsets will become a not-for-profit organisation, with the vision to expand its themed all ages ‘natural high’ sunset dance parties around Australia to create a platform that contributes to mental health in our community.
In addition, our vision is to bring our sober dance party concept to schools, to inspire more healthy partying for our youth. We would like to run educational presentations and co-create themed Xstatic Sunsets parties with students at their school to open minds to the benefits of partying sober at an early age.
Our Purpose is to Inspire a More Healthy Way To Party
Anxiety and depression are a real challenge for us and everyone we care about. Especially for our younger generations – and in particular men – with suicide rates rising to tragic levels so far in 2020.
We need to party and connect, but it’s time to find the balance without missing out on the fun. Moderation is the key to enjoying alcohol and other substances, to avoid addiction and be healthier and happier.
How One Dance Party Can Change a Life
We believe when someone experiences the joy of the natural high it can open minds to greater moderation.
Watch our mini-doco from our Shark Island launch party capturing the experience and feedback from people of all ages vibing high naturally!
The testimonials are testament to the positive benefits of sober dance and connection to our mental health:
“I’m still on a natural high 48 hours later. Everyone needs to experience this event to know what pure joy and happiness is, without the need for booze or drugs.”
“Bigger, better & more brilliant than any other ‘high’ I’ve experienced .... a rave that revives one’s soul!!!!”
Your Reward – A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Wonderland!
FLEXIBLE ON DATE - SECRET PARKLAND - SYDNEY
Post-COVID, we all deserve a truly magical party where we can reconnect and celebrate coming back together - as ONE TRIBE.
Having gone down the rabbit hole in isolation, you will resurface to enjoy an Xstatic Wonderland dance party experience, complete with a ridiculously fun Mad Hatter’s Tea Party which will be co-created by you!
In the theme of co-creation, you will bring your own table, chairs and tea party set up, to link up with others, make some new friends and share your delights. We are also offering a VIP table which is completely set up and ready for the madness if you prefer not to bring your own.
But more than just a tea party, expect an Xstatic Sunsets dance stage with epic DJ’s and performers and a journey down a magical rabbit hole.. to discover your superpowers and re-imagine what's possible.
This party will be locked and loaded, ready for a flexible date when we can party again.
All ages and family-friendly - this party is for everyone.
We are collaborating with a team of brilliant artists to co-create a truly out-of-this-world experience, incorporating a series of roving performers and fun games to play. In true Xstatic fashion - expect surprises!
This is a one-day experience running from approx 2pm - 10pm. To keep numbers under 500 on each day (to meet potential restrictions) and accommodate demand, it will be held on Saturday and Sunday.
Your journey to Wonderland
1pm - Arrive and set up your Mad Hatters tea party setting with your friends or family. Imagine big long table settings in front of the main stage and dance floor
2pm - Welcome to country with Aboriginal dancers leading into a multi-cultural choir performance celebrating Oneness. Let the Tea Party begin!
3pm - Get involved with the Mad Hatters Scavenger Hunt and journey down our magical rabbit hole interactive experience to find your true self!
4pm - The Sunset Party kicks off with a line up of epic DJ’s taking your on a journey into the natural high, through sunset and into the night (closing at 10pm).
For a taste of what we have done before, check out this gallery from our last three events:
- Shark Island launch party: dance through the decades
- Cirque Xstatic: Circus extravaganza at Fox Studios
- Space Pirates: we went intergalactic on the rooftop of Home nightclub!
Learn more about the 5 principles of Xstatic Sunsets which make our events fun, creative, inclusive, safe and environmentally sustainable.
The Theme - Re-imagine & Co-create
Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, the theme is self-discovery and how we can re-imagine and co-create a better world. We will challenge our perceptions of reality and question what is right and wrong, applying our wisdom and creativity to discover new, healthy and fun ways of living.
Check out our past events and you will see we go all out with the production, decor and theatrical experience. We can’t wait to thrill, surprise and inspire you!
We Are All Quite Mad Here. You Will Fit Right In!
No matter your age or background, you’re invited. We encourage you to express your colourful side. Your madness will be celebrated. There is no judgement here. So start preparing your costume, make it bright and eclectic and of course make sure you prepare a truly mad hat!
But remember if we don’t hit our minimum fundraising target we can’t party, so invite your friends, your mum and your grandma and by all means bring your kids.
Shark Island Launch Party - All ages, anyone is welcome
Funding Goals & How Will The Money Be Spent
After three big events, Xstatic Sunsets is yet to break even and as the Founder and Event Director I am yet to pay myself. We have relied on voluntary help to date, but this simply is not sustainable.
We have to two funding goals:
- 50k - is the minimum target we need to reach to access any funds, which will produce our Xstatic Wonderland dance party experience.
- 200k - is our ultimate stretch target, to provide essential funds to help Xstatic Sunsets become a sustainable not-for-profit and achieve its mental health mission. The funds will be used to pay key personnel, who will plan and deliver our pipeline of future events, including the school programme mentioned above.
Allocation of funds to support our mission:
- Cover the cost of the party 50k (venue, staging, sound, lighting, crew, infrastructure, marketing)
- Set up as a not-for-profit 6k
- Insurance 4k
- Contract an event coordinator for all events 40k
- Event Director salary, grant applications, sponsorship & trial school program 60k
- Marketing/PR agency support and marketing budget 30k+
5% of funds raised after covering event costs will be donated to a mental health charity (TBA)
Capturing the magic from Cirque Xstatic at Fox Studios
The Backstory
Jasper has been organising dress up parties for 20 years for fun. But it was discovering Burning Seed (Australia largest regional Burning Man event) six years ago where his party organising escapades broke loose.
A vision for a sunset party came to life, co-created with friends, Sunset Island quickly became the biggest dance party at Seed. Who doesn’t love a good sunset and tunes?
Jasper's own journey through depression led him to have a break from the booze to discover the natural dance high which helped him find balance and happiness again.
Leaving his corporate life behind, Jasper applied his passion for party organising to a bigger cause, with the intention to create the ultimate dance party experience, but without the booze. Inspired by Burning Man principles and the joy of the sunset parties at Burning Seed, the vision for Xstatic Sunsets was born.
FAQs
You say the date will be flexible because of restrictions, but roughly when is the party going to happen?
We are aiming to run the party in early November but this will depend on COVID restrictions. We are hoping by then we can party in numbers of up to 500. Worst-case scenario we will push the date back to early 2021.
What will be the venue and location?
The venue will be a parkland setting in Sydney but kept secret until the day before! When you will be given directions to find the Wonderland.
Can I bring my kids?
This is an all ages event. As it sober its a safe environment to bring your kids of any age.
‘Wait a minute this is a sober event... How is it different?
It’s basically a wicked dance party and experience but without alcohol and drugs.
You enjoy a natural high from letting go in your costume, dancing and enjoy the connection with new and old friends. The vibe is high and our dancefloors go off so get ready to dance! Learn more about the natural high in our interview with
Enjoy getting into character and get creative with your costume which helps you express yourself and it’s a great ice breaker to connect with others.
Check out the past Xstatic Sunsets themed dress-up parties to get a taste for the experience.
It will run over a weekend - can I come for both days?
We intend to run the party over two days so we can cater for demand and have up to 500 people each day. But this is a one day and night experience running from 1-10pm so your ticket gives you access to the party on your chosen day. We will aim to fill Saturday before offering Sunday as an option.
Do I need to dress up? How do I dress up?
It’s time to get creative!! Our events are inspired by Burning Man principles of inclusion and self-expression - its permission to go wild! Wear whatever you want, but we encourage you to express your colourful side and get into character. When it comes to losing your inhibitions, getting into costume is an effective way to do it, minus the hangover.
The theme for this Xstatic Sunset party is Alice in Wonderland and with a Mad Hatter Tea party you have plenty of inspiration to bring out your inner wild and silliness! You might be inspired by a character outside the storyline of Alice and Wonderland but create your own story. There are no boundaries - we just celebrate you being you!
Why not do a couple, group or family dress up :)
How can I help? Can I volunteer?
The best way you can help is simply sharing this crowdfunding page to friends, families and business networks that may like to get behind the Xstatic mission or simply like to come and celebrate with us all. We also value volunteer help.
We also value volunteer help. Become a Mad Hatters Volunteer by donating $39 and we will be in touch via email.
Can I sponsor, offer products or run a stall?
Once we hit our minimum fundraising target we will be putting the call out for sponsors and stallholders. To enable the event please share the crowdfunding page with your community and network. Expressions of interest can be sent to [email protected].
We went intergalactic with Space Pirates - the first sober dance party at Home Night Club!
