Casa is the place to be this weekend.
In addition to the return of a live Christmas at Casa, Nov. 19 and 20, six new art exhibits open at Casa on Saturday, Nov. 20.
“ We love everybody. Casa is a great hub. So you can start here and wander over to the Owl for the Guerrilla Art Collective and the SAAG,” enthused Allied Arts Council communications director Kelaine Devine, noting there are a lot of art shows happening this weekend. You can get a holiday passport which can be stamped at Fort Whoop Up at the indigenous Market, Casa, SAAG and the Galt Museum and get entered into a draw for a gift basket.
She is excited the Christmas At Casa is live again.
“We were completely online last year because of Covid, but it didn’t really capture the excitement of being live,” Devine said.
“We’ve been closed for seven months. This is the eighth year we’ve done Christmas at Casa. It really brings the community together. And we have a wide ranging group of artists participating this year,” she said.
There will be a cornucopia of craftspeople, artisans plus members of the pottery, weavers and textiles surface guilds and a lady who create gingerbread kids who the Allied Arts Council discovered during last year’s online event.
They will be set up throughout Casa.
“We’re trying to control the crowd this year. We‘ve had 4,000 people in past years, so people will have to get free tickets through eventbrite to set up a time to attend,” she said.
Conforming with Covid protocols, all attendees must have proof of double vaccination and wear masks.
There will be live music from Alice Tindori, Assumta Smallwood, Karen Romanchuk, Dale Ketcheson and Mick Sullivan and a few others to be announced.
Thanks to a Heart of the City grant, this year also features a heated outdoor cafe where attendees can enjoy a snack. It will also feature a windwall to protect people from the wind.
While you’re there you can check out six new art exhibits, which will officially open with a reception at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20. Though they will be set up on Friday.
Christmas at Casa is 4-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19 and 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
