NEW DATE! Outdoor Holiday Open House at MoCA Westport

NEW DATE! MoCA Westport (formerly the Westport Arts Center) and the Westport School of Music invite the public to a free holiday Open House on their outdoor grounds (19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT) on Saturday, December 12 from noon to 5 p.m.

The event is also sponsored by the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce.

All safety and health protocols, including the wearing of masks, will be explicitly followed.

The jointly sponsored community event will feature holiday caroling by small groups of the Orphenians of Staples High School throughout the afternoon.

Led by Luke Rosenberg, director of Choral Music and Music Theory at Staples High School, the Orphenians are a well-established mixed a cappella chorus of 39 voices that have been a part of Staples’ rich music scene since 1958. They have become well known for their holiday performances through the years.

Also as part of the event, attendees can enjoy free admission to the MoCA Westport gallery to view the current World Peace exhibition, on view through January 17, 2021. The exhibition visits will be timed and will occur in small groups to accommodate state guidelines.

The Westport School of Music, now in a new location on the second level of MoCA Westport, will also be providing timed tours, limited in size, of their new space. Current Westport School of Music teachers and students will delight attendees with their performances throughout the afternoon on a Hamburg Steinway piano in MoCA Westport’s gallery.

In addition to complimentary hot chocolate provided by Sheila Barton Events and doughnuts provided by the Grateful Food Company, food and drinks will be available from The Melt Truck, which specializes in unique grilled cheese sandwiches.

Kids can also participate in a holiday-themed outdoor art project, suitable for all ages.

“We are very honored to have the Orphenians perform at MoCA Westport this year. Their annual performance is highly anticipated, and we look forward to bringing the community together for a holiday experience,” stated Ruth Mannes, the Executive Director of MoCA Westport.

“We are grateful to the community for their support in the past year, and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to give back,” Mannes added.

In lieu of an admission fee, please consider bringing an unwrapped toy, which will be donated to the Westport Police Department Annual Toy Drive.

In the case of interim weather, the event will be cancelled; please visit mocawestport.org for any same-day cancellations.