Long list of events for short month of February
It’s a short month, with a long list of events. Fortunately, almost all are indoors! Concerts, dramas, Valentine’s celebrations, a New West Theatre run, Family Day events, an international powwow, a Colombian feast. . .
So let’s start with recently announced attractions.
“The Wild Side of Love,” an annual fundraiser for the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, will be held on Valentine’s Day as usual.
Ryan Heavyhead — widely recognized as our city’s rattlesnake expert — will be the guest speaker, and the evening (for ages 18 and up) will also include wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and live music. For reservations, call the centre at 403-320-3064.
The nature centre will also offer Family Day events, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 18, followed by a “Run Wild” day camp on Feb. 19 and 20, for children staying home due to teachers’ professional development days.
••• You might mark your calendars for more coming attractions:
Two concerts, Friday and next Saturday will be part of the North American Saxophone Alliance conference being hosted by the University of Lethbridge. The Friday event, including “saxophone concerti,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. in University Theatre.
On Saturday, a 5:30 p.m. concert in Recital Hall will be followed at 9 p.m. by a cabaret fundraiser, featuring the
Lethbridge Big Band, in the Students’ Union ballroom.
Call the U of L box office, 403329-2616 for details.
••• More upcoming concerts include a Lethbridge Folk Club appearance by Bill Bourne on Feb. 23, an African children’s choir on Feb. 27, a Vox Musica presentation on March 2 — and a “community cabaret” on the same day. Watch this space for more information.
••• And here are more Family Day options: the provincial government has announced admission will be free that day at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, the Remington Carriage Centre and the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre.
Here in town, the Galt Museum is offering a free Family Day pancake brunch (with free admission) on Feb. 18, which is also Museum Community Day.
There’s a free “Family Funday” event, noon to 4 p.m. at Casa. “Musical fun” will be provided, along with “box city,” creative buttonmaking and other art activities.
And the 1st Choice Savings Centre at the university will host Play Day for youngsters and parents once again, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with nocharge opportunities to climb, swim or get involved in a little floor hockey or basketball.
•• •
Playgoers of Lethbridge —
one of the longestrunning community theatre groups in the nation — has another comedy ready for our pleasure. The French farce “Where’s Oscar?” will run Feb. 20-25 in the newly upgraded Sterndale Bennett Theatre, with tickets at both Ticket Centre locations.
•• • More drama! A “devised adaptation” of the children’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” — with no fewer than five actors as Alice — is ready for a run from Tuesday to next Saturday in the David Spinks Theatre on campus. Director Mia van Leeuwen challenged drama students to define their own “wonderland” community, while each Alice had to decide later how to respond. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., with tickets from the U of L box office as above, or online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets.
At Club Didi, meanwhile,
Theatre Outre will open “Like Orpheus” on Feb. 25, with tickets at www.theatreoutre.ca. •••
And New West Theatre continues its run of “Rockers Gone Country,” Tuesday through Saturday at the Yates Centre until Feb. 23. The music/comedy review features well-known songs that topped the rock hit parade as well as the country charts. There’s also a Saturday matinee next week, check one of the Ticket Centres for seats.
• • • The Southern Alberta Ethnic Association’s monthly dinners are proving so popular, it seems, that the upcoming “Taste of Colombia” will be offered both Feb. 22 and 23. Entertainment as well as authentic food will be part of each evening, with reservations available at 403320-1577. ••• And a reminder that the International Peace Powwow, presented by the Blackfoot Canadian Cultural Society, is set for Feb. 23-24, with doors at the Enmax Centre opening at 10 a.m. each day. Dance and music competitions, Miss Blackfoot Canada specials, arts and crafts — and of course food — are among its attractions.
••• For our last-minute suggestions:
The city’s first Wordbridge Writers’ Conference, underway today at the downtown library, will conclude with a “snack and chat” reception for all interested, starting at 5 p.m. in the Mortar & Brick event facility on 7 Street downtown.
It’s closing night for “Candide,” staged by the
Lethbridge Symphony
Orchestra and featured guests from the university’s Opera
Workshop, set for 7:30 p.m. in Southminster United Church. Check for tickets at the door.
And Monday, the no-charge Cade Community Lecture series concludes with a presentation by Professor Jim Linville on “the myths of death,” at 7:30 p.m. in the library’s Theatre Gallery.