HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Hendersonville artists have something to look forward to as the region continues to be haunted by Hurricane Helene.
Continuum, the Hendersonville tattoo parlor, art gallery and artist haven, will host a Halloween benefit gala from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at 147 1st Ave. East in downtown Hendersonville.
The event will donate its proceeds to support artists affected by Helene. When the storm landed, Hendersonville was forced to cancel its Art on Main festival, a massive annual income source for local artists. Continuum’s Halloween Gala is one effort to mitigate that loss.
The gala, now in its third year, has always been to benefit a charity. This year, Continuum had already decided the gala would sponsor the arts when Helene hit.
“This year, we had shifted our focus to the arts council here in Hendersonville, and the Hendersonville Theatre,” said Katie Montes, the owner of Continuum. “Then the hurricane happened and we weren’t sure if we were gonna have it again this year or not. We went ahead and went out on a limb and reached out to the band, and told them we were looking to turn it around into a relief benefit, if they were generous enough to donate the second half of their fee to the effort.”
They were. The two artists performing at the gala, Nashville’s Brother Maven and Hendersonville local Liam Pendergrass, agreed to the charity effort.
Other artists that will contribute to the fundraiser are 10 different tattoo artists that have made Continuum their home since the storm.
“We have become kind of a refuge for artists that were displaced from Asheville, that couldn’t operate due to either no water or the water is not clean in Asheville so they couldn’t use it, or their shops got completely demolished,” Montes said. “People came to me to have a place to take care of their clients while they’re waiting to get back into their studios.”
The artists will have several Halloween and Western North Carolina-themed flash sheets to work from, which will be updated on the Continuum Instagram page as they become available. Prices will range from $80 to $250, with a minimum of 30% of the proceeds donated to relief efforts.
The Halloween Gala will also feature a Halloween costume contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best Overall Costume, Best Couples Costume and Best Classic Costume with prizes valued up to $1000.
While Montes and her husband may be out of a costume – the shipping delays meant their plans for a gender-swapped Lydia Deetz and Beetlejuice costume were put on hold – they are no less enthusiastic about the Halloween fun the gala has in store.
“Everyone in the town of Hendersonville loves Halloween,” laughed Montes.
That includes Montes and her husband, whose anniversary even falls on the holiday.
“Every year we try to have this Halloween party and when we opened a business it evolved into this big gala,” Montes said.
Tickets for the gala and more information about the agenda can be found on the Continuum website, www.continuumartnc.com/events/halloween-gala#theme.