Step right up! The Nelson and District Women's Centre invites you to enter the "Womaginarium" this Friday.
The Prestige ballroom will be turned into an old-timey carnival packed with entertainers waiting to show off their talents. There will be everything from clowns to musicians, dancers and live painting, as well as booths for fortune telling, tarot card readings and face painting.
Elena Banfield, executive director for the Women's Centre, said everyone is welcome to dress up retro-glam and be part of the fun.
"It's not just what's happening on the stage — the whole room will have a feel to it of stepping back in time, or even outside of time," Banfield said. "It's an environment to encourage creativity and imagination."
Prizes will be handed out for best costume and there will be lots of silent auction items to bid on.
All the proceed go to the Women's Centre to support the Mill Street drop-in centre and free women's resources, including skill-building sessions. This is the organization's main fundraiser of the year.
"Because we don't have ongoing funding from government sources, we really rely on the community's support," Banfield said.
In previous years the annual fundraiser was a smaller event held at the Eagle's Hall, but Banfield said they wanted to broaden their scope and invite the whole community to take part.
Performers will include Lisel Forst, Bessie Wapp, Sydney Black, Clinton Swanson, Krista Lynch, Slava Doval, KindredHeart, Oxygen Orkestar and more. Michelle Mungall will be the fortune reader for the evening.
Womaginarium is open to all ages and all genders on Friday, November 29 at the Prestige Lakeside Resort. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in advance, available at Mountain Baby, the Women’s Centre and Fairies Pyjamas.