Fall marks back-to-school season for some—and a packed gala season for others. As pumpkin spice lattes return to coffeehouse menus, some of Chicago’s most iconic nonprofits roll out the red carpet for donors, hosting their biggest benefits of the year.
Between early September and mid-October, several major fundraisers took place in the Windy City. Here, we take a peek inside three of the city’s glitziest, highest-netting galas, showcasing the most inspired decor, catering, and entertainment ideas from each one.
Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents An Evening With Audra McDonald
The Lyric Opera of Chicago held its season-opening gala on Oct. 6. While the institution’s fall benefit had previously involved a full-length opera at the opera house, followed by dinner and dancing at a nearby hotel, the format has changed. This year, singer Audra McDonald—best known for her Broadway roles–performed a sold-out concert featuring classics from the Great American Songbook. Gala ticket holders had cocktails before the show, then remained at the Civic Opera House for post-concert dinner and dancing.
Photo: Kyle Flubacher
After McDonald’s concert, guests headed upstairs for a three-course dinner from J&L Catering. “We aimed to transport our guests into a world of enchantment,” said Kehoe Designs’ senior event producer Joey Alissa Berman. “Drawing inspiration from chartreuse, sunflower yellow, and teal, we transformed the event with the vibrant colors of a festive autumn evening.” The setup also featured linens and chargers from BBJ La Tavola and chairs from Nuage Designs. The evening raised $1 million for the opera’s 69th season.
Photo: Jacylyn Simpson
The Museum of Science and Industry’s Columbian Ball
The Museum of Science and Industry celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. As dinner was wrapping up during its annual Columbian Ball on Sept. 30, guests were called to the front steps of the institution. Each guest got a flute of Champagne before a surprise drone show began. The spectacle featured a giant “90” in the sky, flanked by the museum’s opening year and the current year, 2023.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry
Considering the major anniversary, the gala had a particularly festive feel marked with “shimmering, chromatic decor,” said Bonnie Paganis, general manager at Sodexo Live. Draped in glistening titanium tinsel linens, “the tables were an ever-changing reflective canvas for the light and projection in the room,” added Paganis. TM Production Services handled event and audiovisual design, while Sound Investment was in charge of audiovisual production.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry
Filled with flowers in pale blue, fuchsia, and purple hues, centerpieces also featured votive candles and scientific props such as glass beakers. 1440 Event Design assisted with decor.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry
Sodexo Live concocted intricate specialty drinks for the celebration. Options included The Rosenwald, named after the museum’s historical benefactor Julius Rosenwald. Served in a coupe, the drink had ingredients such as ancho chile liqueur and passion fruit chile foam.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry
After dinner and the drone show, servers passed late-night bites on floating trays attached to giant balloons. The festive evening raised $1.3 million.
Photo: Courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry
Adler Planetarium’s Celestial Bash
The night sky was the star (no pun intended) of the Adler Planetarium’s Celestial Bash, held Sept. 9. While the planetarium’s gala was once known as the Celestial Ball, in recent years it’s adopted a more laid-back vibe, rebranding into a “bash.” Instead of sitting for a program, guests are encouraged to wander through the lakeside museum, interact with its team, and check out attractions. Stargazing in the Doane Observatory, seen here, proved particularly popular on the balmy night.
Photo: Ana Miyares
As part of the more relaxed atmosphere, the bash had a strolling buffet instead of a seated dinner. Stations from Food for Thought offered vegetarian salads (pictured), salmon tartines on grilled local bread, and macaroni and cheese mixed up in a giant wheel of Parmesan. MDM Entertainment handled event production.
Photo: Ana Miyares
Food for Thought also provided decor. “Leading with a bold and playful color palette of magenta, aubergine, and copper, the linens and floral anchored a vibe of interstellar nebulae,” said the Adler's senior director of development, Ann Grant. BBJ La Tavola and Hall's Rental provided the linens.
Photo: Ana Miyares
Throughout the evening, the Grainger Sky Theater served as a loungey space with plush seating, bars, and live music from DJ Tess. Within the domed room, guests danced under visuals from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The event raised more than $1 million.
Photo: Ana Miyares
