Get ready to shine at Halton Black History Awareness Society’s (HBHAS) “Time to Shine” annual holiday party and fundraiser, taking place on Sat., Dec. 9, 2023, at the Burlington’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60.

Starting at 8 p.m., party-goers will enjoy music by Mike “DJ Gibs” Gibson, a live performance by Garnetta and da Groovmasters, and light refreshments. A cash bar is available, and there will be, as HBHAS says, “Enormous energy!”

The dress code is cocktail attire — in black and gold. Non-perishable food items are encouraged and will be collected for the Burlington Food Bank.

Garnetta and Da Groovmasters also performed at last year’s HBHAS, and electrified the crowd with their mix of soul, blues, and funk. Amongst their recent accolades are nominations for Best New Artist and Group from the Maple Blues Awards, and invitations to play at this year’s Women’s Blues Revue, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, and Union Summer Blues Monday.

Gibson has the played the HBHAS’ Halton Freedom Celebration Festival in previous years, was the first official DJ of the Toronto Raptors and a former member of the Attitude Sound Crew. He has played regularly on the radio. and played live with well-known musicians like Run-DMC, Kardinal Offishall, and Jully Black.

The Halton Black History Awareness Society is dedicated to inclusivity and equality; their events promote understanding and build community amongst all of Halton’s multicultural people and groups.

To attend the HBHAS Time to Shine holiday party, you can buy your tickets for $30 per person or $240 for a table of eight through the HBHAS website