Charity Lopez and David Downie check out the Beaux annual costume party held at the Studio 54 Nightclub inside the MGM on Halloween. Photo by Craig L. Moran. Shanna and Ralph Randles, of Rock Springs, Wyo., enjoy the party. Photo by Craig L. Moran. Studio 54 aerial performer Meagan Hensley twirls during the Beaux annual costume party. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

A group of Japanese tourists formed a mob around Dallas Fueston as he walked through the MGM Grand on Halloween, his masked helper and giant, furry gromet creature in tow.

Fueston took the attention in stride, posing for photos as the crowd marveled at his black wizard costume and cape, his electric gray animal gaze (courtesy of contacts), and the white creature with oversized blinking eyes.

The sight was a stunning spectacle, but only part of a larger display of outlandishness that waited beyond the entrance of Studio 54.

It was the 39th annual Beaux Arts Ball, one of many events held on the Strip throughout the year but one of the most popular among those in the entertainment industry. The costume extravaganza is known as the party for show kids, as local performers are called, to dress up and act foolish once a year and in the process raise money for a good cause.

Among the pirates, naughty nurses, Wonder Women, Santa and Mrs. Claus, countless soldiers, good cops, bad cops, mafia and pimps, Fueston fit right in.

"There's a lot of people in the industry who go here," sad Fueston, who is really a magician and was attending his first ball. "It's Halloween and it's a great time to celebrate and have fun."

Strip entertainers donated their time to perform at the ball, including dancers from Jubilee!, Follies Bergere and La Cage. A variety of costumed characters competed onstage for cash prizes.

Proceeds from the ball support Golden Rainbow, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to Southern Nevadans with HIV and AIDS. Last year's event raised $30,000; organizers expected to top that this year.

The ball was started by a local entertainment writer who wanted to have a party for performers. Over the years, it grew into a public fund-raiser, said Carolyn Graham, a Golden Rainbow board member and the stage manager for the show.

"People come dressed up in amazing costumes," Graham said. "It's like they open up, let their hair down. It's an adult party, not for kids at all, but it gives people a chance to be a kid again."

Albeit a naughty kid. One man pointed his video camera up women's skirts. And for a while, there were more backsides visible in the club than in a hospital nursery. The later it got, the more elaborate and risque the costumes became.

"I think as the night goes on, people get more daring and show more skin," said Kevin Smith, a bartender at Hamburger Mary's. On this night, he was dressed as a Jubilee! show boy. His thigh-high, stiletto boots covered more skin than the strands of beads that passed as a garment. It was a costume that required the wearer to possess a lot of confidence.

"I live to wear this stuff," he said. "I love it. It's fun to walk through a casino like this."