It’s no gamble that there will be ample fun and games at the annual kidscommons fundraising Carnivale Monte Carlo: Masquerade.
Tickets remain and will be available at the door for the 21-and-older casino-style celebration from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Commons at 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus. That represents a change over previous years for the gathering.
The switch was necessary since pre-construction work has begun on the $500,000 Camp kidscommons third-floor renovation at the children’s museum. Organizers are hoping to complete that work by sometime in the fall, said Ben Wagner, museum executive director.
And kidscommons leadership is hoping to top last year’s Carnivale net of $113,000, Wagner said. Current sponsorships and other support already nearly totals about about the same as 2019 at this point, according to Wagner.
“Keep in mind that this fundraising supports low-cost and reduced-cost programming for kids,” Wagner said, adding that free-admission days also are hugely popular. “So we’re really grateful to our sponsors and everyone.”
The facility that includes programs such as art and science and more last year attracted nearly 60,000 people including school and related groups, he said.
Demographics show that nearly half of the visitors come from outside Bartholomew County.
More than 250 tickets, including sponsor seats, already have been sold for Saturday’s gala. Though kidscommons capacity has limited recent crowds to fewer than 300 people, The Commons provides more space for more supporters, organizers said.
The event will include a live auction of trips and more, a silent auction, food from Henry Social Club Chef Gethin Thomas and live music from Indianapolis dance-oriented band Toy Factory. The group plays cover tunes ranging from Alicia Keys to Aretha Franklin to Beyonce.
Honorary co-chairs helping promote Carnivale are Todd and Julie Bergman, Alyson Dunfee and Ike Dougherty, Derek and Jenni Kiesler, and Blake and Betsie Reed.
The silent auction, meant to be smaller this year than in the past, will be built into the casino theme, according to Lesli Gordon, the museum’s resource development director. The gaming portion of the evening will allow attendees to take their top casino chip winnings and purchase one of five baskets of items for the silent auction.
“The casino just goes so well with the theme,” Gordon said. “And we just decided to mix things up just a little bit.”
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What: kidscommons annual 21-and-older fundraiser, with this year’s event billed as Carnivale Monte Carlo: Masquerade
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus
Tickets: $80 per person tickets available at kidscommons.org or at the door
Information: kidscommons.org
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