Casa Captivating
Press Releases
San Clemente, CA – Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, rings in the Halloween spirit with three spook-tacular events as part of its commitment to community entertainment and education.
October 13: Casa Kids presents Fall Succulent Pumpkins (at capacity)
On Saturday, October 13 at 10 AM, children ages 6-10 will paint faces on real, carved-out pumpkins. Then, they will plant tiny succulents inside for a garden-friendly take-home craft. The event is free, but advance RSVPs are required. This event is at capacity.
October 18: Casa Up Close presents Special Effects Makeup
On Thursday, October 18 at 7 PM, Emmy award-winning instructors from Cinema Makeup School educate guests about creating otherworldly faces and bodies for film, television, and fashion using makeup. The lecture will include a demo for a classic Halloween witch look using makeup and prosthetics! Tickets are available online at CasaRomantica.org/Calendar for $12 (Casa members $10).
October 27, 28 and 31: Casa Creepy Haunted House
Casa Creepy Haunted House returns for its third Halloween, with three nights of ghoulish fun on Saturday, October 27, Sunday, October 28, and Wednesday, October 31 (7-9 PM nightly). Billed as ‘South Orange County’s best family-friendly haunted attraction,’ the walk/maze covers 2.5 acres through Casa Romantica’s 1927 mansion (a registered historic landmark) and its botanical gardens. Casa staff and volunteers completely transform the cultural center during the last two weeks of October to include trick doors, booby traps, and a host of animatronic scares. In classic community fashion, the Haunted House is staffed each night by local volunteers of all ages who dress up and play the parts of werewolves, ghosts and witches to scare ticket-buying guests. Casa Creepy Haunted House is designed to be suitable for families with children ages 8 and older. Although there is no touching, some lighting, objects and human interaction may startle participants; therefore, all ticket buyers are required to sign a waiver. Tickets are available online at CasaRomantica.org/CasaCreepy for $12 ages 13 and up, and for $7 ages 0-12.
About Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens maintains a robust series of year-round programs in arts, music, history, horticulture, and literature for all ages. Under the leadership of Executive Director Berenika D. Palys, Casa Romantica has commissioned several critically-acclaimed works, including Casa Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018; theater), Casa Coastal: Rebecca Louise Law (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Contemporary Dance Collective (2017; contemporary dance), The Beauty of the Butterfly (2017; visual art), Casa Kinetic: Carrie Lee Riggins (2016; contemporary dance), Casa Drama: Slings & Arrows (2015; theater), and Open Casa: The Photographs of Douglas Kirkland (2015; visual art). The 2018-19 Casa Captivating season includes a new jazz series, visual and performing arts commissions, and an enhanced wellness program.
“Casa Romantica strives to be the epicenter for innovative artistic experiences in our southern California community,” says Casa Romantica Executive Director Berenika D. Palys.
Casa Romantica also hosts a variety of free arts education programs for children year-round. The institution’s annual Casa Romantica Music Festival and Academy has received critical praise for its comprehensive two-week music studies program in cello, piano, viola, and violin. Casa Romantica also offers a Summer Dance Workshop, a Spring Break Arts Week, various art, literature, and horticulture events to grades K-12, and welcomes over 2,000 children from the Capistrano Unified School District each year for STEAM-based field trips that examine the history of San Clemente and the coastal environment.
Mission Statement: Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and is the historic home of the founder of the City of San Clemente. Casa Romantica provides programs for all ages in arts, music, history, and horticulture and is a premier Southern California cultural center.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is located at 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672. Hours: Tuesday—Thursday 11 am—4 pm; Friday—Sunday 10am—2pm; closed Mondays and holidays. General admission is $5; Casa Members and children under age 13 visit for FREE. For more information, call (949) 498-2139 or visit CasaRomantica.org.
