


The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a full day of music, art vendors ,food and other festivities on Saturday.
The free event, dubbed TOCApalooza, is a fundraiser for the arts foundation and will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive. The event will feature three stages of entertainment, an art exhibition, ticketed food, beer and wine, and a children’s zone.
“The whole idea was to incorporate the idea of a fundraiser for the foundation, but also to open up the arts to anyone and everyone to come and enjoy and experience,” said Christian Wolf, TOCA’s artistic/executive director. “Not only to get them to know us and the Art Center a little more, but also to explore art that they might want to come see or participate in.”
TOCApalooza replaced a gala that was the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser.
“It serves as a promotional piece for all these people to come in and see all that the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation has to offer,” said David Kartsonis, president of the TOCA Board of Directors. “It became an opportunity for us to do something, you know, even more impactful for the community than just a standard fundraising gala.”
Former Torrance Mayor Katy Geissert and others helped build the Torrance Cultural Arts Center and TOCA, Wolf said, because the city “didn’t really want to be responsible for programming.”
“Our main purpose is to bring a diverse and cultural enriching season of performances to the (James R. ) Armstrong (Theatre) and then the common theaters,” Wolf said.
Kartsonis agreed on the impact these performances can have on the community.
“It’s not just, ‘Hey, this is some entertainment for us to do,’” Kartsonis said. “It’s an opportunity for people to go out and meet their neighbors and see a different perspective in the world.”
The event will also feature free 30-minute introductory taiko drum workshops throughout the day, at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
A VIP experience will be available, which will include a catered culinary experience by Critic’s Choice Catering, along with VIP seating and more benefits.
For more information, visit torrancearts.org.
Schedule of live entertainment
Torrance Refinery Stage on the Torino Plaza:
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Wayback Daddies.
1 to 2:30 p.m.: Elemental Funk.
3 to 4:30 p.m.: Kings of 88.
James Armstrong Theatre:
11 a.m.: Peninsula Symphony Youth Orchestra.
11:30 a.m.: Angels Lyric Opera.
Noon: Sabor de Mexico.
12:15 p.m.: Let’s Jump LA.
12:30 p.m.: Mikaela Kai Flamenco.
1 p.m.: Select.
1:30 p.m.: Let’s Jump LA.
1:45 p.m.: Dancing with RKDC.
2:15 p.m.: The Aerospace Players.
2:45 p.m.: Nityashetra Dance School.
3 p.m.: Let’s Jump LA.
3:15 p.m.: Dance Space AI Vibration.
3:45 p.m.: Astra.
4 p.m.: Ballet Folklorico Aztlan.
4:15 p.m.: Let’s Jump LA.
4:30 p.m.: Dance 1.
Nakano Theatre:
11:15 a.m.: Palos Verdes Band.
Noon: Kseniya Orlik- Angels Lyric Opera.
12:30 p.m.: Charelee Marie.
12:50 p.m.: Nico Gonzalez.
1:30 p.m.: Conrad Cayman.
1:50 p.m.: Alina Shieh.
2:10 p.m.: Sonia Grace.
2:30 p.m.: Giovanna Wynne.
3:10 p.m.: Katie Cage.
3:30 p.m.: Krista Chica.
4 p.m.: Christopher Hart.