BALLSTON SPA — Opera Saratoga presents an opera-themed pet costume party for pets and their owners from 1:30 – 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.
The fall fundraiser, titled Paw-varotti, will be held on the outside lawn at The Pampered Pooch and Pals, located at 2134 Doubleday Ave. in Ballston Spa.
The festivities will include a costume contest and runway judged by ‘celebrity’ judges who will award prizes for the Best Opera Costume, and best cute and scary costumes, among other.
A Howl-o-ween themed concert of classical music features opera singers Carla Fisk and Maximillian Jansen (the star of Opera Saratoga’s 2023, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) accompanied by pianist Karen Becker. The event will include photo ops, raffle baskets, seasonal bites and drinks.
Each ticket includes an operatic photo op: humans can try on costumes from Opera Saratoga’s stock, and pets receive a special Halloween portrait. Ticketed pets and owners receive entrance into the costume contest and a special ‘red-carpet moment’, where they may strut their stuff on the runway.
All proceeds will go towards Opera Saratoga’s 2024 summer season, which will be announced after the runway, with a special musical presentation. At the announcement, Opera Saratoga will raffle off a “Golden Ticket,” an all-access pass to Opera Saratoga’s Summer Festival (with a value of $450.) Kids 16 & under party for free and tickets are available for adults with and without pets.
Tickets and ticket information, available at www.operasaratoga.org/pawvarotti.
Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera, began with a production of Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre on July 5, 1962, playing to an audience of 230. The Company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually. Opera Saratoga celebrates its 60th Anniversary this season. To date, the company has performed 106 different fully staged works by 66 different composers, including 42 works by American composers and 14 premiere productions. In 2023, the company hired its 10th Artistic and General Director, Mary Birnbaum.
