Oceanside CA— To help ease the burden of long days sheltering in place, Oceanside’s vibrant arts and cultural community is stepping up to provide entertainment for the armchair visitor in a variety of formats from musical theater to behind-the-scenes tours and virtual art classes.
“Oceanside’s arts and culture scene has been recognized by the State of California for excellence, so it’s no surprise to see our community apply its creativity during this time of crisis,” said Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside. “If we can’t travel, then the next best option is enjoying a version of the City’s offerings from home.”
Here’s a round-up of how to enjoy Oceanside’s current offerings:
The Show Must Go On— Virtual Theater
Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) is staying true to its commitment to providing the best in theater arts. While the theater’s latest production of Sweet Charity was shut down just after its debut, several of the stunning musical numbers can be viewed online. Viewers are encouraged to donate, if possible, to OTC’s fundraising campaign, which has set a goal of raising $16,000 to help the actors, directors, musicians and others involved with the shuttered production. OTC also partnered with Scripps Ranch Theater for a live stream reading of Quiet Cross on April 2 and has posted the link here for those who may have missed it. http://oceansidetheatre.org/sweetcharityvideos/
Virtual Art Lessons and Lectures
Oceanside Museum of Art continues to expand its virtual Museum From Home series with live stream events including Slow Art Day themed activities, a Plein Air Paint In and virtual lectures on topics ranging from art theft to art censorship. To see upcoming events and access links to online tutorials, visit: https://oma-online.org/virtualoma/
Virtual Vacations
Art, in the form of beautiful, scenic, nature videos, is a specialty of Visit Oceanside and the organization is helping raise people’s spirits with a series of “virtual vacation” videos. Virtual visitors can experience a sunrise, watch birds swim in the lake at Guajome Regional Park, observe sea lions at the harbor, explore Buena Vista Lagoon and enjoy the sun set over the Oceanside Pier. https://visitoceanside.org/blog/virtual-vacation-day-oceanside
Song Grams for Loved Ones
Celeste Barbier, a local Oceanside musician who is typically featured on Thursday nights at Coomber Craft Wines, is offering Celestegrams to help make ends meet during the shutdown. For just $25, she’ll create a song gram with personalized message that can be shared with friends on Facebook. The Celestegrams are perfect for celebrating someone’s birthday, anniversary or other special occasion from a “social distance.” www.celestebarbier.com
DIY Mask Kits
Oceanside leather goods company Rais Case is quickly expanding its mask making production with the majority donated to healthcare professionals and others in need. For crafters at home, Rais Case will soon be offering DIY Mask Kits for purchase along with a tutorial. Plus, for every mask purchased, Rais Case will donate a mask to someone in need. https://www.raiscase.com
Take Out Humor
Privateer Coal Fire Pizza is inspiring viewers with entertaining “Public Service Announcements” on its social media channels. These humorous videos, featuring bartender Eric Klier, have become follower favorites for bringing a little levity to the day while also encouraging followers to order takeout. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-akqUmp6Q1/
About Visit Oceanside
Visit Oceanside Conference and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing organization in Oceanside, Calif; promoting travel to the city for both leisure and group visitors. The organization influences about one-third of the $382 million that is generated by visitor spending in Oceanside each year, which supports nearly 3,500 jobs. Visit Oceanside also operates one of the state’s official California Welcome Centers. With just one stop, visitors can find local, regional and state maps, purchase discount tickets to major Southern California attractions, make hotel reservations or shop for the perfect California keepsake. The Visit Oceanside CVB and California Welcome Center- Oceanside are conveniently located just off Interstate 5 at 928 North Coast Highway. For more information, please call (800) 350-7873 or visit www.visitoceanside.org