Spotlight: 1940s Ball 2026

On Saturday, June 20th, the historic Boulder Airport will host the 18th Annual 1940s Ball, a celebration of live music, costumes, characters, and vehicles from the World War II era. From meeting historical figures such as Bob Hope and Edward R. Murrow to dancing underneath the stars in full 1940s glam, the celebration has only continued to grow. We recently jumped on the phone with Khyentse George, the creator of the 1940s Ball, to talk about the ball and its journey so far.

Photos taken from official reel

Jamie Lammers: Can you share what the plans are for this year?
Khyentse George: The theme this year is “Victory Through The Airwaves,” so we’re taking a throwback to how radio was used in the 1940s. We have a radio station that we’ve created called KBDU, which are actually the call letters for Boulder Airport. We’ve built a radio set, and attendees can come and take their turn at trying World War II radio broadcasting. We also have an improv group that does a radio show, and they’re gonna be bringing attendees up on the stage to get involved. The big part of the night is the dancing. We put a huge wooden dance floor out under the stars. You can see the Flatirons in the background. You watch the sunset, and the sky turns red and orange. There’s all these beautiful bright lanterns all over the dance floor, and the band is playing. There’s just so much going on, you’ll never get bored.

Jamie: That sounds absolutely gorgeous.
Khyentse: Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. In our 18th year, we’ve honed in on what is most special for guests and really sticking to the key elements of the event.

Jamie: How did you come up with the idea? How has it kept going for the last 18 years?
Khyentse: My grandparents were radio performers in the 1940s, and during WWII, they were in a radio show together. They both were really into music and performing, and were involved in all sorts of community organizations and had parties at the house. I really fell in love with their generation. It all fell together because I was working in non-profit, and I needed to throw a fundraiser. I was also working at the Boulder Airport at the time, at a flight school, and they had a gorgeous hangar. I was meeting all sorts of people that were into these old WWII planes. Little bit by little bit, things fell together, and we had such a great turnout that I decided it would make sense to do it again. We did it a second year, and it just started growing and growing. I think there were 200 people the first year, and now there’s 3,000.

Jamie: What’s it been like seeing that growth over that time?
Khyentse: It’s really cool to see. This was a fundraiser we made out of nothing. We had to figure out how to make those pieces work without a budget for advertising. Here I am going out and putting fliers on people’s cars at swing dances and senior centers. More people came, and then you’d see there’s stars in Boulder coming. This gentleman, who was a Doolittle raider, Bill Bower, he’s been a longtime Boulder resident. We happened to have the B-25, which is what he flew, at the ball that year, so we had him out there. He was like a rock star at the event, and that was just so special to see. There’s been these little markers through the years.

Jamie: Is there anything you hope people enjoy the most?
Khyentse: I think the most important thing about the event is the community, the chance to step away from the chaos of everyday life and go into a different time where things seemed to be more simple. People were very present and all together in something bigger than ourselves. That’s what’s really special about the ball. When you walk around, you see the sights, the planes flying overhead. You hear the music, and you’re dancing on the dance floor. There’s this interconnectedness between people, and friends are made that last a lifetime. That community grows and grows each year, so I think that’s a really special part of it. It goes one step beyond watching a show. It’s being a part of something that is pure joy, being present with all the senses. I think it’s a really special time for people who love history, have a romance for the 40s and 50s, and who like to do something that’s out of the ordinary.

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