Betsy Peterson Designs at 1121 Second St. hosted four of the more than 100 Iowa artists, musicians and poets who blended and vended their beauties in downtown Perry during this weekend’s ninth-annual Art on the Prairie.
But Peterson has more in store for the community this week because a First Look event in the Betsy Peterson Designs Gallery is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 15 from 7-9 p.m. Proceeds from the First Look event will help support the Marjean Gries Memorial Perry Children’s Christmas Fund.
“Marjean always loved her students,” Peterson said of her friend, who taught physical education in the Perry school system for 34 years. “She was also very generous to many of them at the holidays. Her son, Casey Baldwin, is carrying on his mom’s legacy of generosity with Marjean’s memorial Christmas fund, and we wanted to help in that effort with our First Look fundraiser.”
Tickets to the First Look fundraiser are $10 if purchased by Monday, Nov. 12 and $20
thereafter. Tickets may be purchased at the door on Thursday or in advance at Betsy Peterson Designs, Ben’s Five and Dime, Alice’s Haus Dressin, Hy-Vee, the Hotel Pattee and the Scottish Fox.
Along with advance views of Peterson’s holiday designs, attendees will enjoy desserts, winetasting and live music, and some choice Peterson artworks will be raffled off.
Shoppers who miss the First Look event can still attend Betsy Peterson Designs’ Holiday Open House on Friday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 18 from 1-4 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 23 will bring Peterson’s First Look Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with new holiday items on display in the gallery. The First Look Friday is timed to coincide with the annual Lighted Christmas Parade at 7 p.m.
