SCENE: All aboard

photo c/o The Children’s Museum of Wilmington

SETTING SAIL

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FUNDRAISER RETURNS by LAURA MOORE

The Children’s Museum of Wilmington will host its signature fundraising event, YachtVenture, a night in which both landlubbers and water lovers will enjoy the festivities. The event sets sail on October 22 between 5:30 and 9 p.m. at the Bradley Creek Yacht Club.

“It is a terrific evening of touring yachts, eating great food, an open bar, live music, a silent auction, and a small live auction. There’s so much excitement,” said PATTI ERKES, The Children’s Museum of Wilmington’ event coordinator.

As guests enter YachtVenture, they will be welcomed to the sound of steel drums and greeted with a “welcoming cocktail” by End of Days Distillery. According to Erkes, “(Guests) can continue to be welcomed all night long” by craft cocktails at the open bar, or they can enjoy a bourbon tasting in the auction tent.

Once inside, guests are invited to enjoy dinner, or they can tour eleven yachts in the Bradley Creek Marina. Each of the captains will be on deck, so guests can learn the story of the boat and the seas it has sailed.

The lineup of eleven yachts includes watercraft that range in size from 31 feet to 62 feet.

“It is just amazing to see what is down below on these boats. It is magnificent really,” Erkes said.

Raffles are available for the chance to win a $3,000 gift certificate to the Old Edwards Inn & Spa in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and live auction items include a sunset cruise on a yacht, a closet or garage makeover from Strickland’s, or a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon.

A silent auction will offer a variety of items for bidding, as well. Participants must register to view items and bid in the silent auction.

Tickets are available for $150 a person and include dinner, an open bar, and live music from The Schoolboys band. Tables are available for $1,500 for a reserved table of eight guests.

The dress code is “Dress to impress: semi-formal or cocktail attire.” Guests must be twenty-one years old or older.

All proceeds go to The Children’s Museum of Wilmington’s educational initiatives and new exhibits as well as upkeep of the historic building on Orange Street in downtown Wilmington. In addition, the museum works “hand in hand” with the Brigade Boys & Girls Club and the MLK Community Center on their outreach programs.

“The Children’s Museum has wonderful educational daily programming as well as outreach programming. We offer a variety of engaging, weekly programs including art, literacy/reading, and STEM topics. We deliver outreach programs for the underserved children in pre-K to fifth grade,” Erkes said.

The money raised from YachtVenture helps provide programming both in and outside the museum. This includes summer camps that are both “educational and entertaining,” according to Erkes. The museum also offers field trips to schools and other groups that support their curriculum, and each month, it hosts family-friendly events.

“It all goes right back to the children in the greater Wilmington community,” Erkes said. “It is a terrific evening where you get dressed up and spend the night by the water to raise money for the children.”

Erkes promised a few “surprises” throughout the event.

“When you’ve done something for twelve years, you need to keep it fresh,” she says. “We have a few tricks up our sleeve, and we’re going to keep them there until the event.” W

Info: YachtVenture.org