It’s amazing what people can accomplish when they work together. Whether it’s going to the moon or playing in a band, the more we partner with people for a common goal, the more successful we all become. It’s the same with businesses, especially nonprofit organizations. They work tirelessly to support their mission, to raise money and awareness. But when some of these non-profit organization come together to support a local event, their partnership benefit so many more people.
When talking about the upcoming Brunswick County Intercultural Festival, Mary Beth Livers, Executive Director of the Brunswick Arts Council said, “We hope people come out to celebrate what Brunswick County has to offer. This area is rich with artistic talent and that’s what we’re celebrating. Join us for Art events that make a difference. This year, we’re partnering with different non-profit organizations to reach a wider audience. We have something for everyone, especially our music programs. Not only are you going to hear music from different cultures at Riverwalk Park on October 8, our concert performers are amazing and have toured all over the country—and we’ve added some of our local talent to give the events a hometown feel. We’re excited because the proceeds from these 3 concerts and performances help support our local artists, schools and programs throughout Brunswick County.”
The sponsors of the event, The Brunswick Arts Council, The North Carolina Rice Festival, The Free Spirit Conservatory for the Arts and CineBay Film Festival consistently bring us the absolute best in entertainment and this year is no different.
If you were here in 2013, you might remember “Listen Up Brunswick County.” Mary Beth Livers explained, “The Listen Up Brunswick County series was created by Jeannie and Ron Dufour and began in 2013. Its purpose as a performance series was to bring great performance experiences to residents and guests of Brunswick County. The concept continues under a new name, Celebrate Brunswick NC!”
Starting on October 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., go to Riverwalk Park in Belville and listen to live music and watch dance performances as you enjoy the International Villages, the Parade of Nations, a variety of food choices and booths with crafts representing each country.
If listening to music is your thing, you can do that starting October 13th, listen to the music of Grammy Award winning front man for the Blues Travelers, John Popper, and The Long Bay Symphony starting at 8:00 p.m., at the Odell Williamson Auditorium located at 150 College Road NE in Bolivia. Opening acts for this event include local artists, Parlay at 7:00 p.m., and Tina Smith at 7:30 p.m. General seating prices are $35 and $63. And, special event pre-performance VIP passes include a meet/greet with the artists from 5:30 to 6:00 for $150. Reserved orchestra seating is also available.
On the 14th, get back to the music of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s with the pop band, The Spongetones. The music starts at 9:00 p.m., also at the Odell Williamson Auditorium. Local favorites, The Hatch Brothers will perform at 8:00 p.m.
On October 21st, come back to Odell Williamson Auditorium and listen to arrangements of Gullah music with a jazz flair by Ranky Tanky starting at 8:00 p.m. Ian Daviz will open the show at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets for the concerts are available at: www.BOCCOWA.com, or ETix.
Finally, on October 27th and 28th, the Cinebay Film Festival will entertain you with family-friendly short films and music videos covering a variety of subjects in Downtown Southport.
The Brunswick County Intercultural Festival and our local sponsors are bringing so many forms of art to us to enjoy and explore. Art is alive and well in Brunswick County and can be enjoyed in many different ways, so come on out and sample all that you can.
For additional information about the Brunswick County Intercultural Festival, go to www.bcifestival.org or [email protected].
