Saturday (Oct. 29) will see Cultural Days and Halloween celebrations rolled into one, says the Nanaimo African Heritage Society’s president.
Shalema Gantt, society founder and president, said Cultural Days usually takes place at the end of September, but she was away, so she postponed the event, deciding to combine it with Halloween.
A children’s costume party will take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Best Western Dochester Hotel on 70 Church St., while the Art de Carnival Masquerade will take place later, beginning at 7 p.m.
Storytelling and photos with cartoon characters will be among the events at the children’s party, according to Gantt.
“Children come in, there’s going to be some face-painting, some activities for them to do,” Gantt said. “There will be story time, some stage performance happening and there are goodie bags, lots of Halloween treats and lots of fun.”
The masquerade event for the adults will feature a fashion show with champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
“We have dance entertainment, we have a DJ, there’s going to be a live salsa dance group, there’s going to be a salsa workshop, it’s going to be, ‘Put your dance shoes on and come out and boogie,’ that’s what I want to do,” said Gantt.
Tickets for the adult event are $30 and $15 for the children’s party and proceeds benefit the society.
For tickets or more information, please go to www.nanaimoafricanheritagesociety.com.
“Grownups like to play and we don’t often have a lot of places to go for Halloween, so this is an opportunity,” said Gantt.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
