The creative costumes were out in force at Casa as the arts centre hosted its first ever Monster Mash and Film Festival Halloween night.
Curator Darcy Logan said the event offered Casa a chance to bring members of Lethbridge’s arts scene together.
“We’re always looking for unique ways to engage the public,” he said. “And we thought what would be better than a Halloween fundraiser as an alternative to the bars?”
Daina Ully, who came dressed as Maleficent, attended with two of her friends.
“I saw it advertised on Facebook and thought it would be a fun evening to come out for Halloween and enjoy it with my friends,” she said.
The night offered a costume contest with prizes donated by Kapow Comics and Drunken Sailor, with winners judged by the owners of the establishments.
Sarah Badiola, a U of L nursing student who came with her friend Nichole Teskey, the experience was a new one.
“This is my first time attending a Halloween party,” she said. “I’m from the Philippines and we don’t celebrate Halloween.”
She also said she hopes to bring the tradition back with her should she ever move back.
The main event of the night was the Monster Mash film festival featuring short independent horror films.
“We have about nine entries making nearly an hour of viewing coming from as far away as Eastern Canada and as close as right here in Lethbridge,” Logan said.
The films were screened throughout the night and attendees were asked to vote for their favourites.
Le Chat by Jeff Charlton, Aimee McGurk and Cassandra Watson won the $300 first-place award and Killer Time at the Beach by Royal Court Cinema won $150 for second place.
Casa’s next event will feature the opening of two new gallery shows on Nov. 7 at 7p.m.
Carrie Pohl, dressed as the Day of the Dead, and Kennedy Pohl, dressed as Harley Quinn, do a tarot reading at the Casa Monster Mash and Film Festival on Oct. 31. Carrie won best costume in the costume contest.
Gaston (Timothy Elniski) and Belle (Jenni Svrcek) ham it up on their way to winning best couples costume during the costume contest at Casa’s Monster Mash and Film Festival on Oct. 31.
Participants in the costume contest pose on stage at Casa’s Monster Mash and Film Festival on Oct. 31.
