Event Ideas

Kehoe Designs transformed the Fairmont Hotel's ballroom into a tropical setting with lagoon-colored lighting, leafy centerpieces, and giant cutouts of animal silhouettes for the Goodman Gala, which was held in Chicago in May 2013 and celebrated the theater's production of The Jungle Book.

When Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong premiered in December 2005, Universal Pictures threw an enormous party for 3,000 guests in New York. The event included an elaborate—and complicated—waterfall that took a crew of workers from Garden State Koi and Aquatic Center three days to assemble. The installation was part of the jungle-theme section of the premiere party and included sound effects and a light fog.

For the premiere of the King Kong 360 3-D attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood in June 2010, a python from Wildlife Waystation greeted fans on the red carpet.

For the HBO Emmy after-party in August 2010, event designer Billy Butchkavitz concocted a “summer safari” theme that featured animal-print tablecloths in preppy pink and banana and palm trees as high as 30 feet.

A fire pit next to the arrivals area kept HBO's guests warm at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

In late April 2015, the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago hosted its annual fund-raising gala. The event featured animal-theme decor from the Flower Firm, including a bar with leopard spots and eyes.

Palm leaves, lilies, and zebra print decorated the ballroom of the Four Seasons Chicago for the Service Club of Chicago's gala in November 2011.

Tall palms topped the zebra-print bar during the cocktail reception at Michael "Pinball" Clemons Foundation's safari-theme gala in March 2010, which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Yorkville, Toronto.

Solutions With Impact topped the tables with lamps wrapped in animal prints at the 2010 gala, which supported Free the Children.

Whimsical animal napkin rings provided by Jedando Modern Handicrafts, a Kenyan organization, marked each place setting at the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation's gala.

Dense arrangements of tropical plants were suspended between white pillars, creating a jungle-like canopy effect at the Museum of Modern Art’s 2013 Party in the Garden in New York.

The arrivals backdrop—featuring the Cartier, which underwrote the event, and MoMA logos rendered in neon and marquee lights—echoed the dense arrangements of tropical greenery found inside the dinner space.

Sporting a festive red dress, "Mindy the Monkey" interacted with guests at the Lyric Opera of Chicago's celebration in April 2015.

The Palm Springs sofas ($500 for two) from Patina Rentals can add to an event's jungle vibe and are available in the New York area.

Chicago-based catering firm Truffleberry Market serves up a frozen version of classic Bananas Foster.

In the summer of 2013, the History channel recreated destinations from its Mountain Men show in New York's Union Square. That included erecting two rock walls for visitors to climb.

Also at History's 2013 public promotion was an area dubbed "Tom's Tannery," which displayed authentic animal hides as well as hunting bows and arrows.