The spookiest time of the year is upon us and the Howe Sound Performing Arts Association (HSPAA) wants Squamish residents to kick off the Halloween weekend with an eerily good concert.
The group is putting on the first-ever Spirit of Squeamish, which aims to thrill audiences and help raise money for the Access Music Education (AME) fund.
"This year we decided to have a Halloween theme for this first time ever," said the HSPAA's Veronica McPhee. "In the past we've had some teachers perform but this year it's all students and a lot of the students have benefitted from the fund, so it's almost a cyclical thing."
McPhee said the fundraiser was known as Homegrown last year and has been known as Spirit of Squamish in the past, but added that the Halloween theme should be a fun way for the kids to express themselves.
"We have quite a variety of performers," she said. "There's some monologues by drama students, Jocelyn Petit will be playing the fiddle, lots of pianists, some dancers and a couple of choirs."
The Halloween theme will extend to the intermission of the event, which will feature treats for sale and a jack-o-lantern raffle. All money raised for the event will go toward the AME, which helps students pursue interests in the arts. The program, which was first implemented in 2005, has helped more than 30 students and raised more than $20,000. Former AME recipient Emma Pederson took home the PNE star showdown this past summer and McPhee said she's one of many who have benefitted from AME.
"Some of our students may choose to go the same route as Emma but even if they don't pursue it in a professional way, it's important for the HSPAA to say that we honour them," she said. "If a student is a showing a commitment to the arts, then we value that and want to give them a little help."
Admission is by donation for the event and McPhee said she hopes to see the community come out and support the kids.
"I hope a lot of people come out for it," she said. "There's a lot of variety so there should be something for everyone. We hope people come out and support these kids and the future kids that one day will make it to the stage."
Spirit of Squeamish will take place at the Eagle Eye Theatre on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
For more information on the HSPAA, visit www.howesoundarts.ca.
