An enchanted evening fundraiser at Northland Public Library scheduled for April 22

Tickets are on sale for the Northland Public Library’s 2023 Garden Gala: An Enchanted Evening, to be held April 22, from 7:30-10 p.m. at the library on 300 Cumberland Road in McCandless.

This year’s gala will embrace a new Enchanted Evening theme, said Alexis McKinley, director of the Northland Public Library Foundation.

“Attendees can look forward to seeing both floors of the library and the Learning Garden transformed into a secret garden atmosphere,” said McKinley, who also serves as director of development for the Northland Public Library.

The gala is for adults 21 and older. Tickets cost $70 and can be purchased via www.northlandlibrary.org.

“Northland Public Library directly benefits from the funds raised through the Garden Gala, and the event also allows our community to come together and celebrate without having to keep their voices down inside the library after hours,” McKinley said.

The event, being sponsored by the UPMC Health Plan and UPMC Passavant, will feature food offerings from a dozen local restaurants and caterers. Wine, beer, spirits and nonalcoholic drinks will be available, with wine expert Dave Fortunato returning as the honorary sommelier.

“In addition to many fan-favorite, returning food and beverage vendors, this year’s Gala will also feature the Wordplay Bar by Lucky Sign Spirits, which will be serving literary-themed cocktails for the first time,” McKinley said.

Tom Kosmala, president of the Northland Public Library Authority, will perform on the keyboard with Aiden Bartholomew and Ellen Carlins performing on guitar and keyboard, respectively, she said.

The Garden Gala provides an important financial boost to the library, which services residents of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, Marshall, McCandless, and Ross. The Northland Public Library Foundation serves as the fundraising arm the library, and the Garden Gala is its largest annual fundraiser, McKinley said.

If the weather is good, guests can wander in the Learning Garden, an outdoor educational space accessible from the children’s department on the first floor.

Guests can bid in a silent auction on a variety of unique baskets. And 50/50 tickets will be sold.

Local professional photographer Dave Hochendoner will photograph the event. Honorary Chair Daisy Jade, host of Fan N’ATion and a reporter on KDKA’s Pittsburgh Today Live, returns as honorary chair.

Last year’s Garden Gala was the first to be held in-person since 2019 and was scaled back in scope, McKinley said. Pre-pandemic galas in 2018 and 2019 each raised close to $22,000, which officials expect to exceed this year, she said.