Enjoying Classes at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens

Founded in 2002 by a charter of the City of Clemente, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens is a nonprofit organization that provides cultural programs to people of all ages focusing on art, music, horticulture and history. Located at the historic home of Ole Hanson, Casa Romantica was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange County on December 27, 1991.

Considered to be the epicenter of arts and culture in south Orange County, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens offers more than 60 concerts, classes, workshops, lectures, recitals and events each year. Many of these programs have been critically acclaimed by the regional press, including its rendition of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the unique Classical Music Festival and Academy.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens has many classes and workshops to offer during the month of November. Some of these are as follows:

• Casa Kids: Faye Creative Casa Kids Class: An interactive and collaborative workshop for children led by artist Fay Wyles. Participants tour the Casa Romantica gardens as they observe shapes, colors and patterns in the nearly 100 succulent varieties featured in the gardens. These succulents then go on to serve as source material for the children’s mixed media painting compositions. Space is limited and all enrollments must be received 24 hours prior to the event, which takes place on November 4th from 10:00 am until 11:00 am.

• D. Yoder Family Sundays: Learn about San Clemente’s first human inhabitants, the Acjachemen people, through a variety of activities. Planned activities include grinding grains with mortar and pesties for acorn porridge, weaving simple trible-inspired bracelets, touring Native American medicinal gardens and watching a video about the daily lives of the Acjachemen people. Appropriate for participants of all ages, these special workshops take place on the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. The next event is scheduled for November 5th.

• Casa Wellness: Holiday Succulent Wreath Workshop: Led by the Garden Director, this interactive workshop guides participants through creating a living wreath using the succulents that are grown in the Casa gardens. The handmade wreaths can last all year long with easy care. Workshops take place on November 8th and 15th from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. The cost is $35 per participant.

• Casa Wellness: Fall Tea Blending Class: Learn about the benefits of tea while practicing brewing techniques and sampling custom tea blends. Participants create and take home two fall blends of their own creation. The class is $35 per participant and made possible by Lavender Lounge Tea Company. Class takes place on November 29th from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

In addition to offering a variety of workshops, classes and cultural activities, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens can be reserved for special events including photography and videography shots, weddings, corporate events and private events. It has also been featured as a top Orange County destination in Sunset magazine, Wedding Wire and Westways magazine.