If you’ve been “dying” to unleash that inner zombie, or another character worthy of a fabulous Halloween costume party, Two Rivers Gallery’s annual Menagerie fundraising event is the place to be on Oct. 26.
Come have some fun, perhaps win a prize for your ingenious or ghoulish costume, and support a great cause as funds go towards the gallery’s exhibitions and programs.
This year’s theme is a Zombie Beach Party, but you don’t have to perfect your “undead shuffle” or throw down some decomposing haute couture to attend.
“You can come dressed however you want,” says Public Programmer Aisha Hamis, adding most attendees deck themselves out in some pretty convincing and creative duds.
“One year we had a group come as Mario Kart characters,” she says.
The party starts at 8 p.m. and goes until late, giving everyone plenty of time to eat, drink and support the gallery.
There will also be fortune-tellers on hand to give you a glimpse at your future, a variety of games to take part in, a silent auction and awards for best individual and group costumes. Menagerie also marks the end date of Two Rivers Gallery’s WestJet raffle. One lucky person will take home two tickets to anywhere WestJet flies. Tickets are still available for purchase at the gallery and will also be available at Menagerie up until 11 p.m.
“It’s going to be an enjoyable night. We will have ‘broken down’ beach decor to match our zombie theme, maybe some brains scattered here and there. And the proceeds raised go towards all the great things we do at the gallery,” Hamis says, adding this year’s goal is to raise over $20,000.
Many people don’t realize the gallery is a not-for-profit organization that is reliant on events such as the Menagerie, which is their largest fundraiser, says Hamis. “The event helps us offer our programs to the public at a lower cost, allows us to grow our gallery’s permanent collection, and exhibit artwork from across Canada.”
Two Rivers Gallery provides a great deal to the local community. They offer educational tours for both youth and adults, run programs for youth such as Maker Lab Youth Immersion, organize exhibitions that address contemporary issues, and deliver creative programs throughout the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
Tickets to this year’s Menagerie: Zombie Beach Party are now available, and the earlier you buy, the more you save.
Adult Early Bird tickets are $45 until Sept. 15.
Adult Advance tickets are $55 from Sept. 16 to Oct. 6.
Regular Adult tickets are $65 from Oct. 7 until the event night.
Student tickets are $40, and there is a 10 per cent discount for adult groups of eight or more.
Last year's event sold out, so get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
For more information, visit the Two Rivers Gallery at tworiversgallery.ca or visit their Facebook event page.
