BY ALEX GOODMAN
Managing Director
NEW VILLAGE ART
Giving experiences is “on trend” this holiday season. So, broaden your definition of “yuletide cheer” by including the arts on your gift-giving radar. There’s an arts experience to suit every taste from classical to contemporary and from humorous to heartfelt. Are you concerned about finding the ideal gift for everyone on your list? Perhaps instead of another toy, tie or tiara that may collect dust come January, consider an experiential gift that your friends and family will remember forever.
Carlsbad has several arts organizations that offer gift certificates for their performances, memberships, classes and more. You can also purchase tickets outright as most arts organizations have very liberal exchange policies. Better still, purchase tickets for an engaging performance, add a gift certificate to a local restaurant, and create a magical night out on the town!
New Village Arts, Carlsbad’s professional theatre company, offers gift certificates in any amount that may be redeemed for anything they offer – just like cash. Only $25 will get you a ticket to a concert by a local musician, a cabaret performance, a staged reading of a new play or musical, or a preview performance of a mainstage production. For $200, you can redeem 2 half-season subscriptions that will guarantee a memorable date night every other month through July. Or encourage your child’s or grandchild’s creativity with a 10-week acting, improv or playwrighting class.
If something musical captures your fancy, a family membership at the renowned Museum of Making Music (MOMM) is just $65 and comes with a year of admissions for two adults and their children, a subscription to the Museum’s NOTES newsletter, two free admission passes to share with friends and family, and a 10% discount on concert tickets and the museum store. It’s a noteworthy gift that keeps giving! For example, MOMM’s annual Joy|The Christmas Concert on Friday, December 13 features Jazz pianist Scott Wilkie and friends and includes unique arrangements of beloved Christmas songs, performed by an unforgettable, world-class ensemble.
Most events hosted by the Carlsbad Music Festival (CMF) are free or ask for a suggested donation when you arrive. The annual summer festival at St. Michaels by the Sea attracts hundreds of visitors each year. Keep an eye out for the new Sonic Chapel and Eclectic Lawn series from January to May, leading up to the three-day festival in August. CMF T-shirts, tote bags and other swag tell the world that you are a music lover and can be purchased on their website for as little as $5.
So, before Black Friday sneaks up on us, consider sharing the arts as the ideal stocking stuffer this holiday season. With so many local options, there’s no need travel to San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles for memorable arts experiences when they are happening so close to home!