Raise a Glass with The Smith at “A Sparkling Night: A Midwinter Masquerade”
GENEVA, NY – Raise a glass with the Smith while raising funds for Geneva’s historic opera house. Saturday, February 26th will be A Sparkling Night at The Smith: A Mid-Winter Masquerade! This new fundraising event will join together the splendor of the Smith Opera House with the dynamism of the Finger Lakes Wine Region for a fun and inventive gala evening. Taking guests back in time to a 1920s Masquerade Party, the evening will feature six leading Finger Lakes wineries pouring samples of their best sparkling wines, food pairings, period-appropriate music, and even vintage champagne coupes to drink from as attendees circle throughout the building. Taking a leaf from Geneva’s Rosé Soirée’s playbook, this will be a winter night where all the stars come out in The Smith’s ceiling and beyond.
The spacious Smith Opera House will serve as the backdrop for this night of jazzy enjoyment during which 200 attendees will sample sparkling wines from six wineries stationed throughout the building. Wineries will include Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Hosmer Winery, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, and Ravines Wine Cellars. Local purveyors Kindred Fare, Bella’s, FLX Frybird, Lively Run Dairy and CaryMo chocolate will provide edible pairings for the wines.
From 8:00pm to 9:00pm attendees will enjoy live music from The Dixie Kats. Throughout the night, guests may continue exploring the beautiful space and purchase full bottles of any of the wines sampled throughout the night!
Newly elected board chair and winemaker, Kelby Russell, conceptualized A Sparkling Night as a classy winter evening featuring wine, music and community. “We have this beautiful space, and it feels like a very appropriate winter activity, and a way to celebrate the amazing wine industry we have here at the same time,” said Russell. He also gave an extra-special shout out to the volunteers that have scoured garage sales and antique stores to collect 200 vintage etched-glass coupe glasses for guests to use for their tastings throughout the evening!
Tickets are priced at $100 and are limited. This is a 21+ years event. Generous sponsorship from Hancock Estabrook and Finger Lakes Partners Insurance allow all the proceeds of this event to go directly into fundraising for the beautiful Smith Opera house. Check the Smith’s website to purchase your ticket now!
It is important that we gather safely this winter. All patrons over 12 years of age at films or live performances at the Smith Opera House are required to wear a mask AND show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. Depending on the nature of the event, patrons may be allowed to remove their mask once seated in the theatre.
To learn more about events offered by The Smith Center for the Arts visit thesmith.org, or visit or call our box office for phone and in-person sales, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday.
The Smith Center for the Arts, stewards of the historic Smith Opera House, provides diverse arts and educational enrichment opportunities year-round for Finger Lakes residents and visitors. The Smith Opera House is at 82 Seneca St. in Geneva, NY. Please email boxoffice@thesmith.org or call (315) 781-5483. For more information visit www.thesmith.org.