One of the Foothills’ most scenic day destinations is holding events this weekend.
Coming up June 4-5, the Leighton Art Centre is holding its annual Clothesline Art Market, which is returning to an in-person event for 2022 after going virtual for the past two years.
“This year we’re able to go bigger because we didn’t have to plan it last minute,” said Amanda MacKay, Leighton’s director of marketing and communications. “We have art from the online sale, we have a lot of extra art and fine crafts in the house, and this year we have over 20 artists who will be representing themselves on the grounds.”
This will be the 35th year for the market, and on site for the event will be food trucks and live music, as well as the new addition of free tours of the Leighton Art Centre on the hour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“They’re for people who maybe have never taken a real tour of the place, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the history of the Leighton Art Centre, which is nearly 50 years old now,” MacKay said.
As the sun sets June 11 from 9-11:30 p.m. visitors can Discover the Night Sky in a session facilitated by Jim Critchley, a retired biologist, naturalist and science teacher.
“The Leighton Art Centre is just an amazing spot to do that,” Critchley said. “First of all, it’s in the heart of the Dark Sky Initiative, and secondly it’s on the top of the Foothills so you have unobstructed views of the north, south and west sky.
“It’s the perfect setting to go and look at something.”
Critchley frequently runs workshops interpreting the night sky.
“Having somebody just point things out that are in the night sky makes looking at stars just a little bit more interesting,” he said.
To accompany the session guests get a planisphere — essentially a map of the sky made by Environment Canada — calibrated for the local latitude.
“We make more of those ahead of time so you can go home and teach people ahead of time,” Critchley said. “We not only make it but teach people to use it.”
Leighton’s Discover the Night Sky event runs June 11 from 9-11:30 p.m. and admission is $28.36 for a family of two adults and two children or $11.73 for a single ticket or extra child.
Admission for the Clothesline Art Market is by donation and it takes place June 4 at 10 a.m. and wraps up June 5 at 4 p.m., but the online sale runs until the end of June. No smoking, alcohol or dogs are allowed on the property.
More information about either event can be found at https://leightoncentre.org.
