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OI Festival of Trees 2016

FESTIVAL OF TREES RETURNS NOVEMBER 11-19

Oglebay Institute is pleased to present the Festival of Trees November 11-19.

During OI’s Festival of Trees, Oglebay’s Pine Room is transformed into a Christmas wonderland of fully-decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces and swags created by area designers. All items are for sale and proceeds benefit Oglebay Institute’s arts, cultural, and nature programs. The Festival also highlights Oglebay Institute programming throughout the week.

Open Daily 2-7pm Beginning November 12
Admission: $5 adults; $4 senior citizens and children ages 5-12. Free for children 4 & under.

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Festival of Trees Special Events:

Opening Night Reception – 7-10pm Friday, November 11
Be among the first to see and purchase trees and other items. Enjoy food stations and a beer & wine bar, and be among the first to purchase a tree for yourself, your business, or for a local family or organization in need.
$35 per person.

Children’s Breakfast Among the Trees – 9-10:15am or 10:45am-12pm Saturday, November 12
Our friends at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery cook up a delicious breakfast of waffles, scrambled eggs and bacon. You’ll have plenty of holiday fun, too!  Hear reindeer stories, make nature-inspired crafts and a screen print of Rudolph, who is our very special guest.  He will join the fun, interact with guests and pose for photos. $15 per person (free to children 3 and under)

Salsa & Cerveza Night- 7-9pm Saturday, November 12
Join instructors Peter Lim and Andrea Baggot for a Salsa dancing lesson, along with a selection of Spanish beers. $33 ($28 OI members) per person.

Civic Clubs Luncheon Among the Trees – Noon-1:30pm Tuesday, November 15
Members of local civics clubs are invited to hold their weekly meetings among the trees. Enjoy lunch and an informational presentation about the programs of Oglebay Institute. $12 per person.

An Afternoon for Seniors with Ron Retzer – 1-3pm Wednesday, November 16
Join us for refreshments and holiday tunes performed by the Ron Retzer Trio.
$4 per person.

Wine Tasting – 7-9pm Saturday, November 19
Experience a tasting of six wines paired with a scrumptious assortment of hors d’oeuvres.  $33 ($28 OI Members) per person.

Thank you, sponsors!

An anonymous donor and these generous sponsors help support Festival of Trees:  First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union, Paree Insurance Center, Paull Associates Insurance/Real Estate and Premier Bank & Trust. Tree delivery is provided by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.

“The Gallery at Towngate” Hosts First Friday Event

View Art Exhibit and Enjoy a Free, Festive Reception

Join us November 4 at Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre and get introduced  to “The Gallery at Towngate.”  A public reception takes place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event coincides with Wheeling’s monthly First Friday event.

View the current exhibit on display.  Watercolor artist April Waltz is the featured artist.  In addition, you can go upstairs to the theater and watch a series of short films by independent filmmakers from across the country.  Film shorts will be playing on a loop. So, you can come and go at your leisure.

First Friday Fun!  Have a Drink on Us!

Enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer. Have some light refreshments, too. The event is free and open to the public.

“Whether you are out with the family, on a date or enjoying a night out with friends, stop by Towngate Theatre.  Enjoy the art, film and reception. Meet our staff, too.  Most of all, explore our theater,” Thompson said. “You’ll discover more about all the arts and entertainment events that take place here year-round”

April Waltz Exhibit Reception Nov.4 for First Friday
“Sweet Tooth” by April Waltz. Waltz works primarily in watercolor, but also works with photography and casting. Her work showcases a vibrant use of color and shape that fills the frame with a wondrous and often playful energy. Her work has been seen in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout Ohio and West Virginia. She is the featured artist at “The Gallery at Towngate.”

The Gallery at Towngate

Towngate Theatre is well known in Wheeling and its surrounding communities for community theater productions, children’s theater, concerts, ballet, film screenings, spoken word and other performing arts events.  But did you know that Towngate is also an art gallery?  The theater lobby is now home to changing art exhibits.

“The Gallery at Towngate” is an extension of the exhibit season hosted by Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Art Center.  OI curator of exhibitions Michael McKowen began working with Towngate a couple of months ago to organize an exhibit season for the theater.

“Stifel is a much larger space and has a limited number of slots available each season for artists to show their work. This second, smaller gallery space provides opportunities for artists to do solo exhibitions without having to fill a space as large as Stifel,” McKowen said.

McKowen is exploring other opportunities for programs that combine visual arts with performing arts and cinema.

According to Towngate Theatre director Tim Thompson, patrons enjoy the new addition.

“Our audiences are delighted and impressed with the addition of our new gallery space. Many patrons commented that it really brightens up the room in an exciting and vibrant way, and they feel like they are getting two shows for the price of one,” Thompson said.

“The Gallery at Towngate” enhances the growing Centre Market District, and it helps attract more art enthusiasts to events in the area such as First Fridays.

About Towngate

Oglebay Institute purchased the Zion Lutheran Church in Centre Wheeling in 1969. Extensive renovations transformed the historic church into a performing arts center.  The community enjoys hundreds of live performances, films and classes and workshops year-round.

Constructed in 1850, Towngate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.