Chronicle photo by Toni Milbourne A variety of masquerade costumes could be found as Identity Crisis attendees walked up the red carpet outside the former Yellow Brick Bank last Saturday night.

Revelers were out in beautiful costumes last Saturday night as Shepherdstown once again served as home to the Identity Crisis, a fundraiser begun eight years ago to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness-Cumberland Valley.

Following a VIP pre-event party at The Cove, attendees arrived via bus outside Town Hall where they began an event parade down German Street to the red carpet area outside the former Yellow Brick Bank.

“This event raises funds for Breast Cancer Awareness-Cumberland Valley, which offers free services to those that live in the tri-state area,” said organizer Tara Lowe.

The mission of BCA-CV is to strive through community involvement to make understood the impact of breast cancer and ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone. For more information about this organization, visit www.bcacv.org.

This year’s attendees participated in an “Enchanted Masquerade: Fantasy Comes to Life.”

This year’s event began at The Cove with the VIP pre-party with attendees later traveling into town where they visited many local businesses who offered part of their proceeds toward the fundraiser.

Throughout the evening, local businesses provided live music and dancing as well as special events for the Masquerade-goers, beginning at approximately 7 p.m., Saturday. Some of the participating businesses, all of which were outlined with red spotlights outside their entry-ways, included the Mecklenburg Inn, Domestic and the Devonshire. There will also be DJ’s and dancing at Mi Degollado and later at the Town Run Tap House.

A photo booth and art show was held at Shepherdstown Community Club’s War Memorial Building on Friday evening prior to the Saturday event for those who are unable to participate. The Retrospective Photo Show and Silent Auction provided another venue to donate to the cause and offers a kid-friendly portion of the weekend, Lowe said.

Even if one could attend the event this, year, donations, personal or corporate, are always welcome. A non-profit account up online has been set up to take donations right off of the website www.identitycrisiswv.com/tickets-donations.

Lowe shared that there are more than 40 volunteers this year helping with the event that has grown in magnitude each year. In addition, there are financial sponsors, food donations, volunteer staff, and an amazing amount of in-kind sponsorship (paparazzi, videography, printing, venue space, rentals, lighting, flowers and decor and more.

A total amount of money raised was not available at presstime; however, a time will be set in the future for a check presentation from the organizers of the Identity Crisis to present the funds to BCA-CV representative.