Do art projects and try out instruments Feb. 9 at Hylton Performing Arts Center family event

Hylton Performing Arts Center welcomes the community to attend a free Family Open House, Sunday, Feb. 9 between 2 and 4 p.m. The event will celebrate the opening of the center’s new Education and Rehearsal Wing and give visitors a chance to try some art and music activities.

Activities for the Family Open House will include family-friendly live music, a selfie photo station, face painting, interactive arts and crafts tables, a kids’ community art project inspired by The Rainbow Fish, instrument petting zoos, snacks and more.

Throughout the Wing, children will also enjoy face painting by Edgemoor Art Studio, Inc., the opportunity to participate in the creation of special community art project, try their hand at a musical instrument in the musical petting zoo, and enter to win tickets to the April 26 Hylton Family Series performance, The Okee Dokee Brothers!

Hylton Performing Arts Center is located on the George Mason Manassas campus (off Godwin Drive & Wellington Road near the western Police Station and the Freedom Center. The address is 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20109.

This free event is open to everyone and will be in the new Wing between performances of The Rainbow Fish by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Tickets to The Rainbow Fish are not required to attend the Family Open House.

During the Family Open House, live music will be performed by Parent’s Choice Awards recipient: Hot Peas ‘N Butter founder, Danny Lapidus, in the Large Rehearsal Hall. There will also be a Broadway Princess Party Unleash Your Inner Princess Contest info table with a chance to win March 29 tickets to Broadway Princess Party at the Hylton Center.

Hylton Center community Arts Partners will have booths, interactive demonstrations and activity tables set up so visitors can learn more about these talented community groups.

About the Education and Rehearsal Wing:
The Hylton’s new Education and Rehearsal Wing opened Sec. 3, 2019. The $13.5 million expansion added 17,000 square feet and includes two rehearsal halls, six practice rooms, two classrooms, and two additional lobby spaces. The outfitted practice rooms and classrooms are for students and artists of all ages to learn and perfect their crafts, under the tutelage of George Mason University’s nationally renowned professors, Lifelong Learning lecturers, and professional artists. All of the spaces in the new Education and Rehearsal Wing can also serve community events, from corporate meetings to galas.

Rick Davis, Executive Director of the Hylton Center and Dean of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts was quoted as saying, “The opening of this new Wing not only means an expansion of educational offerings at the Hylton Center, but also the opportunity for this community to fully enter into the entire life-cycle of artistic creation.”