The Esplanade Association’s annual “Moondance Gala” will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, along the banks of the Charles River in Boston.
This highly anticipated elegant evening joins friends from throughout the city and all facets of industries together for one unifying purpose: to celebrate the beautiful Charles River Esplanade, one of Boston’s most treasured cultural assets, and lend support to its continued growth and vibrant future.
“The ‘Moondance Gala’ is one of the Esplanade’s most anticipated events of the year,” said, Margo Levine Newman, board of directors chair of the Esplanade Association. “The Gala is our largest fundraising initiative and is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our incredible supporters and many partners, who have helped to guarantee that our urban oasis along the Charles River continues to flourish for years to come.”
Co-chaired by Cynthia Croatti, Allison Hirsch and Sandra Steele, this year’s Gala committee is a dynamic group of Bostonians who care deeply about the Esplanade and know first-hand how the park enriches the quality of their own lives as well as the lives of millions who visit annually. The evening is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Esplanade Association, the 100-percent privately funded park friends group for the Charles River Esplanade.
Catered by MAX Ultimate Food, the theme of this year’s Gala is “Making Life Better in the Park, From the Ground Up.” With a focus on sustainability, the natural beauty of the park will be elegantly woven throughout the evening while shining a light on the tireless work of the Esplanade Association that is done in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to restore and enhance the Charles River Esplanade.
A highlight of the Boston social season, the Gala is the only tented black tie event held on the Esplanade. Guests will sip on seasonal cocktails; enjoy a festive farm-to-table dinner, coupled with an exciting live auction; and round out the night with music and dancing under the stars. The evening will bring together over 400 leaders in the community in support of the Esplanade Association’s efforts to make life better in the park through projects ranging from revitalizing the historic Eliot Memorial and caring for over 1,800 trees to maintaining the play areas and providing innovative park programming and everything in between.
“This year’s ‘Moondance Gala’ will be an affair to remember,” said Tani Marinovich, executive director of the Esplanade Association. “Max Ultimate Food has outdone themselves again by creating a breathtaking evening. From the setting to the music to the incredible auction experiences, the ‘Moondance Gala’ will be a spectacular celebration of the Esplanade, its supporters and our partner, the Department of Conservation and Recreation. We work each day in the Park with the dedicated staff of the DCR with the shared mission of ensuring that the Esplanade remains beautiful, safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy today and for future generations.”
Last year, the Gala raised over $950,000 for the park and the recent restoration of the historic Hatch Shell oval lawn. It is the committee’s goal to surpass that record breaking figure for all the Esplanade Association is currently doing, and hopes to do to support the horticultural health and beauty of the park, including implementing sustainable practices to protect the park’s natural environment, expanding the soil renewal project as well as ongoing efforts to maintaining and greening the park.
Tickets are also currently on sale for the late-night party, “Moondance After Dark,” starting at 9 p.m. Co-chaired by Ashlee Robertson and Carolina Save, “Moondance After Dark” is organized by the Esplanade Friends Council and provides an opportunity for Council members and friends to experience the Gala post dinner, joining in on the celebration and enjoying music spun by the DJ Mario, dancing under the moon and stars along with late night cocktails, light bites and desserts.
For event sponsorship details or ticket information contact: Meredith Wood at 617-227-0365 ext. 102 or [email protected] or visit www.esplanadeassociation.org.