By Abbie Karas
Get ready to roll the dice, play your hand and find your fortune during an evening of casino-style gaming at the annual Pagosa Peak Open School gala fundraiser — “Viva La Pagosa.”
Tomorrow evening, Saturday, October 21 at 6pm, the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts will be transformed into a Vegas-themed casino hall filled with tables for poker, blackjack, craps and roulette. Guests will be dressed to impress, and upon entering the well-appointed venue, make their choice: go all in on the tables or enjoy the ensemble of local blues and jazz music featuring Bob Hemenger on the dance floor. Don’t miss the Vegas-inspired entertainment acts and ambiance.
Alongside a full bar, featuring signature cocktails and mocktails, guests will also have the chance to peruse the silent auction tables where delights from local businesses and experiences can be bid on individually or as part of specially curated themed bundles. New this year, the auction will be live and virtual. At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a captivating array of local experiences and services. The generous support from our community’s businesses has been overwhelming.
To ensure that everyone has a chance to partake in the excitement, we are excited to introduce an online auction system. This will not only allow event guests
but also friends, family and the entire community to join in the thrill of bidding for an array of incredible prizes. We are eager to share these remarkable opportunities with all who wish to participate. Register at givebutter.com/vivalapagosa and check out all the goodies. Bidding begins Friday morning.
Your tickets not only include gaming vouchers, but also invite you to indulge in delectable small plates and conclude your evening with irresistible desserts. Those seeking an elevated experience can upgrade to the VIP package, where guests will indulge in champagne pours served by our aerial bartender, Sass A Frass, enjoy dedicated drink service at the tables, unwind in the exclusive lounge area, and take home a gift bag with local treats.
Capture memories with photos at one of our Vegas-themed photo booths, including A Little White Chapel, where you might even get a surprise guest to pop in. At the end of the night, after the cards have been dealt and the dice have been rolled, players will “cash in” their chips for a chance to be one of the evening’s top jackpot winners, receiving one of many desirable prize packages.
All proceeds from this event will go toward operations and programming at Pagosa Peak Open School — Pagosa’s first district-authorized, public, tuition-free, K-8 charter school. Pagosa Peak Open School is an intentionally small school with a hands-on, project based learning environment designed to foster a joy of learning, confidence and academic excellence through multiage collaborations, and original and meaningful work.
Reaching our mission to develop brave and experienced lifelong learners requires extensive funding; and the school’s operational budget relies heavily on grants and fundraising events. PPOS receives less funding than other public schools in Archuleta County.
To learn more about the school, please visit pagosapeakopenschool.org.
Don’t delay, grab your tickets now and be part of an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased at PagosaCenter. org. Follow the event on Facebook for more details.
Join us to make this year’s fundraising gala truly spectacular. Together, we will celebrate art, education and community collaboration at this special event, where every bet supports our children’s future.