DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, USA – AUGUST 7, 2018: Lake at the Morikami Japanese Gardens with wooden bridge in foreground Courtesy: Shutterstock-Photo By Holly Guerrio
With the holiday season well underway, Yuletide cheer and caroling is abound; and in South Florida it signals the pivotal restart of cultural and artistic happenings and events in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Cultural Capital®. And while this holiday season is far different than what we are used to, the art and magic this cultural scene offers is still omnipresent.
Recognized as the first resort destination in the area, The Palm Beaches of Florida are home to 47 miles of beach coastline, and over 42,000 events each year from 200 arts and globally recognized cultural organizations. As a result, the region is known as Florida’s Cultural Capital. And while the landscape of many of these events have been altered for obvious reasons, ringing in the new year with the restart of the arts could be an excellent way to experience some of the many cultural happenings The Palm Beaches have to offer through a new lens.
The Palm Beaches recognize the importance of safety for its visitors and on top of the local ordinance requiring face masks, they’ve taken a step further to ensure patrons feel comfortable when visiting the region’s offerings. Many cultural organizations participating in this season’s art restart have signed The Palm Beaches Pledge, to demonstrate their commitment to the visitor’s well-being.
Below we’ve picked some cool art and cultural happenings throughout the county that you can visit this upcoming cultural season:
Outdoor Opera Festival at the Palm Beach Opera
- Hosted at the iTHINK Amphitheatre on the South Florida Fairgrounds, the Palm Beach Opera will be hosting its first-ever outdoor opera festival. The Palm Beach Opera is one of the oldest operating opera companies in South Florida and will be hosting the event between Feb. 19-27, 2021, with live performances of “Pagliacci,” “Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute),” and “La Boheme.” Tickets are available for as low as $20.
“Collecting Stories” Exhibit at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
- At this beautiful garden, visitors can take a gander at the collection of plants and exotic flowers in the gardens or visit the “Collecting Stories” exhibit which is currently displaying over 100 works from Morikami’s Permanent Collection and featured in five mini-exhbitions. Visitors can also learn about the variety of face coverings used in Japan over the years (fitting for the times), or enjoy the early 20th century kimono is Dressing the Modern Girl. Located at the foot of Palm Beach County in Delray, the gardens have a prime location that is accessible to all of South Florida. The exhibition is now open and will run through Saturday, April 3, 2021.
“Real Bodies”: The Exhibition at South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
- Open now through April 11, 2021, this exhibit displays the enigma and intricacies of human anatomy. Visitors of all ages can tour the exhibit filled with real preserved human bodies through a process known as polymer impregnation. The new method of preservation is achieved when “bodily fluids are replaced by liquid plastic, which is then hardened to create a solid, durable anatomic specimen that will last indefinitely.” Real Bodies will take visitors on a ride that blends science, emotion, and art and will feature a COVID-19 informational that will help visitors learn about the virus’ effect on the human body.“We are thrilled to bring ‘Real Bodies’ to Palm Beach County. “We know our guests will love seeing the science beneath the skin and learning about human evolution through time. This is a rare opportunity to see the human body from the inside, which we hope will spark an interest in children to seek careers in science and medicine. The exhibit is timely with the COVID-19 pandemic, so we are excited to have this platform for learning,” said Kate Arrizza, Science Center President and CEO. Tickets can be purchased for as low as $13.95 for children and as high as $17.95 for adults.
Soul on Art: “Ghosts of Africa” at Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery and School of Art
- Rounding out the list, we arrive in Tequesta. Featuring globally recognized artists whose work has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The exhibit is inspired by the artists’ personal experiences and cultural heritage and is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the culture and history of the continent of Africa. Some pieces of art can be purchased at this gallery and admission is free for members of the gallery and non-members are encouraged to donate $5. The exhibit will be open from Tuesday, January 26, 2021- Wednesday, March 10, 2021.
For a list of more events going on throughout the season, visit PalmBeachCulture.com/events
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
