Goose Ball: An Art Ball for Us All!
ITINERARY
6-7:00 p.m. – Two Blue Shirts ‘Strut Cam’
7:00 p.m. – Program Announcements & Stand Up
7-7:30 p.m. – Vogue and Practice your Runway Walk with Drag Artists
7:30–7:45 p.m – Special Drag Performance by Sanjina
8:00 p.m. – Community Fashion Show
8:30 p.m. – Costume Contest
9:00 p.m. – Dance Party with DJ Del!
6 -9:30 p.m. – Food Court Open
Entertainment includes:
- Emcees: Babe & Oliver, and comedian Clifford Myers
- Strut Cam – Slo Mo video on the ‘celebrity’ carpet by Two Blue Shirts Productions
- Special Performance by – Sanjina from Season 2 ‘Call Me Mother’
- Community Runway Show – show off your creativity!
Live Landscape Painting with Luke Despatie
Dance Party with DJ Del
Food & Drink: (not included in ticket price)
- Bewdley Lion’s Club Food Truck
- Boba Loka Bubble Tea
- Snack Bar by SweetLeaf General Store; and Cash BarCash Bar
The Goose Ball is a licensed, all-ages event. Please drink responsibly.
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Make giant flowers with us
Facilitated by the Critical Mass curatorial committee
We will also have some DIY sessions to make large paper flowers and decorations for the ball. If you want to craft with us, all are welcome!
You are also weclome to come brainstorm some concepts with our team of artists to take your Goose Ball outfit to new heights.
Dates:
Wednesday, April 24
Wednesday, May 1
Wednesday, May 8
Times: 6:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m.
Location:
Fall Fair Centre
62 McCaul Street
Port Hope
Drop in or RSVP to debbie@criticalmassart.com to reserve your spot!
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For more information, please contact:
Debbie Beattie (she/her)
Program Director
Critical Mass Art
info@criticalmassart.com
New York has the Met Gala. Port Hope has the Goose Ball!
On the Saturday after the Met Gala (Saturday, May 11th), hundreds are invited to gather in the Fall Fair Centre at Port Hope’s Town Park Recreation Centre to celebrate art, culture and community at the 2nd Annual Goose Ball.
Unlike the exclusivity of the Met Gala (or most high-end gala events), the Goose Ball is the quirkier, more affordable, ‘Ball for us All’.
The Goose Ball democratizes the gala experience, inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to share in the festivities and showcase the creativity that makes up Northumberland’s runway. This event is a celebration of art and kicks off the 2024 Critical Mass programming season.
This year’s theme is Art in the Natural World. Guests are invited to dress as their favourite artist, artwork, take inspiration from nature, or simply to ‘be the art’. While dressing up is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Come as you feel your best.
What to expect:
A fun-filled evening of celebration (that the whole family can enjoy), featuring: the best fries from the Bewdley Lions’ food truck, a Public Runway Show (featuring guests of the ball), the most celeb-worthy slo-mo ‘Strut Cam’ shoot with Two Blue Shirts Productions, the cutest photo booth, the best tunes spun by DJ Del, the most hyping / ‘vogueing’ and runway tips from Drag artists, a Special Performance by Drag Artist Sanjina (from ‘Call me Mother’), art activations and crafts, and the announcement of our 2024 Programming line up! With emcees Babe & Oliver, and comedian Cliff Myers, the evening is sure to be full of laughs.
Date: Saturday, May 11th, (the first Saturday after the Met Gala)
Time: 6:00 p.m – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets:
Student $15
Individual $25
Household $40 (Up to *5 ppl in a household).
*Additional members pay $10 each
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Funds raised from the event will support our summer residency program and our efforts to bring free arts programming and experiences to our community.
Interested in Volunteering at the Goose Ball? We’d love to hear from you!
About the Entertainment!
Clifford Myers
Originally hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, Clifford got his start in the comedy world by performing standup at local bars and independent clubs.
With his unique brand of humour, Clifford has been featured on some of the biggest comedy festivals including JFL 42, NXNE and Evolve. He was also the longstanding host of The Brantford Comedy Festival for a whopping 10 years.
As if that wasn’t enough, Clifford is the founder of The Other Comedy Company, a Canadian comedy brand that showcases up-and-coming comedians and provides next-level corporate training.
Offstage, Clifford is a devoted father and active member of his local community.
He now calls Cobourg, Ontario home.
We are delighted to have Cliff return this year and share the Emcee stage with Babe & Oliver.
DJ Del
DJ Del has been serving up the hottest slices of vinyl for three decades, spinning retro vibes since they were contemporary. Del is not one who believes a DJ should be cooler than their crowd yet just remind the crowd how cool they are.
Reading the floor like a classic novel and returning the vibe in full measure.
Giving the people what they need to get down.
Spinning only the greatest tracks from the 60’s to the 90’s plus a few surprises along the way.
Let DJ Del put you into a dance spell at our 2nd annual Goose Ball, and get you strutting your stuff on the Runway!
Sanjina, Babe & Oliver
Will be bringing Drag to Runway this year! You’ll also have a chance to learn some Voguing and Runway tips from the pros.
Sanjina is Toronto’s Bollyhood remix with an attitude unlike any other. She is a trans Fijian icon of Toronto who dances with an unmatched energy that brings a spicy flavour to any show. She turns the party and will put everybody in a trance! She is also the sweetheart of her season on OUTTv’s Call Me Mother!
Oliver has been stealing the hearts of crowds since 2005. He danced his way into becoming the King of several clubs in Ontario Canada . A well-loved Northumberland County staple, Oliver is known as much for his performances as his philanthropy. He loves performing at charity events and supporting causes such as hospice, the United Way, and HIV Awareness. In 2021, Oliver founded his own production company Oliver Talent Events which brings monthly drag shows to the Northumberland community. These shows feature talent from all over northern Ontario. Helping others find the confidence to feel comfortable in their own skin has always been a priority for Oliver. He firmly believes in loving and embracing WHO you are. Oliver has just recorded his first single which will be out in April .
Babe is a Live singing Comedy Queen & Plus-Sized Super Model. The one and only, Miss Babe Kelly returns to the stage, to make you laugh, to make you cry, and dazzle you with her death drops and splitz (haha fooled you). A graduate from Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre performance program, she has worked professionally across Canada with various companies including Stage West, Theatre Aquarius & The CharlotteTown Festival just to name a few. She was also the first Miss. Gay 1000 Islands.
In her career she has been blessed to play many of her dream roles including Shrek in Shrek the musical, Tick/Mitzie in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and her all time favourite Albin/Zaza in La Cage Aux Folles. She also supports her time by collecting new and used clothing and supplies for those in need & as an advocate for drug addiction & overdose recovery.
Babe Kelly is a busy gal with Her Best Friend, sidekick & Brother Oliver. We are delighted to have Babe and Oliver Emcee our Community Runway show this year!
FOOD & DRINK
Food & Drink are not included in your ticket price. However we do have some great options for you, so don’t forget to bring some Cash and/or your Debit or Credit Card. This is a licensed event, but it is also all-ages, so please drink responsibly.
Bubble Tea!
If you enjoyed bubble tea in the parking lot at Olympus Burger last year, you know that Dian Carlo has the best ‘bubbles’ in town!
Dian has rebranded as BoBaLoKa and will be popping up with a curated selection of bubble tea at the Goose Ball on May 11th!
Bring cash or debit/credit and be sure to get your boba fix.
Bewdley Lions’ FOOD TRUCK!
The Bewdley & District Lions Club has been serving the community for over 50 years (since May 7, 1971). Lions serve where they live. They are ready whenever and however their community needs them, so that they can help make their community and the world a better place to live.
You may have already spotted their fundraising efforts at their food wagon and tried their beloved fries at a local event (like the Port Hope Fair, Cobourg Waterfront Festival and more). To give back to the community, the club often shares a portion of the profits with their event host organization, and they have a lot of fun in the process.
We’re delighted that they will be at the Critical Mass Goose Ball on May 11th!
COTTON CANDY!
For those who had Ruby’s Cotton Candy at Cultivate Festival, and other food events around Port Hope and Cobourg, we’re bringing this sweet treat out of retirement and to the Goose Ball!
Ruby is lending us her machine and supplies and all proceeds from cotton candy sales will support free arts programming in our community.
If you have a sweet tooth, we have you covered. Cotton candy pics level up your selfies. Be sure to post to instagram (or tiktok) and tag @criticalmassart.