By Melanie Kafka
As we breeze into August, let’s pause for a moment to look back at some of the noteworthy moments discovered around Wellington this July.
The month began by writing wishes on colorful papers called Tanzaku and attaching them to bamboo branches on display from July 1st through 7th, at Village Hall, Village Park, and Wellington Community Center during Tanabata, the Star Festival, meaning “evening of the seventh.” This Japanese holiday originates from a legend of “star-crossed lovers” represented by the stars Altair and Vega which meet only one time each year on the seventh day of the seventh month, or the “midsummer night.”
If you missed your chance to make a wish at the beginning of July, the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival was happy to oblige you with their Wishing Well, by accepting donations during free productions of King Lear at the Seabreaze Amphitheatre in Jupiter and Commons Park in Royal Palm Beach. This stellar performance blended a timeless presentation of archetypal antagonists with twists of modernity and unexpected brightness at the most harrowing moments. Lear had finally succumbed to a visceral dark madness into which he pulled the entire audience from lawn chairs and picnic blankets, when the house lights suddenly undimmed and fanciful music echoing the theme of the scene piped over the speakers, queuing a welcome intermission. As the play resumed, this extraordinary ensemble magnificently compelled the crowd through every carefully choreographed moment of the show. Did you miss it this year and wish for a chance to experience Shakespeare in the park or by the sea? This is the Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s thirty-fourth year in our community, so be sure to keep a lookout this time next year! Details are on their website at https://pbshakespeare.org.
Can’t wait until next summer for a little culture in your life? Take a look at what’s happening in August around town and maybe just a little south if you’re up for a day trip or weekend adventure.
Wish you had some local theatre shows to enjoy outdoors right here in Wellington? Theatre Arts Productions (TAPs) presents Mean Girls Jr. at the Wellington Amphitheater Friday, August 16 – Sunday, August 18 at 7:30 PM each night. Tickets are on sale through their website at https://www.tapstars.org/mean-girls-dates. The Wellington Amphitheater event calendar dates can be found here https://www.wellingtonfl.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=2304.
The Wellington Art Society (WAS) displays art all month at the Wellington Community Center, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington. Local artists feature works for sale in overlapping exhibits open to the public. Calling all artists! Join WAS at this month’s meeting on Wednesday, August 14, 5:30 – 7:45 PM. Discover membership in this inclusive community art society. The WAS full calendar of events is available online at https://www.wellingtonartsociety.org/calendar.html.
If your Tanzaku wish last month was to visit Japan, but that’s a bit out of the way, you’re in luck because a day trip or weekend in Miami might be in the stars for you instead. The Spirit of Japan festival is happening August 16 to 18 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Find event details at https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/spirit-of-japan/295
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Melanie Kafka has been a Wellington resident since 2011, which she decided was the perfect place to raise her two daughters after returning to Florida from serving in the United States Navy. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Palm Beach Atlantic University while developing her career as a Senior Project Engineer in the aerospace industry. She is also co-founder of the Wellington Ladies Golf Club, which serves to welcome women and girls into the sport of golf while promoting an atmosphere of inclusion on and off the course.