Knights of Columbus Lexington Council 94 will host the Lex250 American Patriot Gala on April 5 at 6 PM to kick off the town’s many upcoming events in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord.
The gala will be at the Knights of Columbus Heritage Hall at 177 Bedford St., which will be decked out in festive red and blue decorations.
“[The gala] is a kickoff event, a big party, to celebrate all of the activities that are going to be happening on April 19, which of course is honoring our first veterans — honor the men and women who died in support of our freedoms and our liberties, and that’s why it’s called the ‘Patriotic gala,’” Barry Cunha, a member of Lex250, told LexObserver.
Attendees are encouraged to match the festive decor with their cocktail attire. Period dressing in colonial garb is also welcomed.
The event will consist of a cocktail hour and ongoing bar services, a seated dinner, live entertainment from the Blake Newman Group and the William Diamond Fife and Drum Corp, dancing, and a photo booth for attendees to capture memories from the night.
There will also be a silent auction and raffle to raise money for various charitable organizations.
This event “lands squarely on [the Knights of Columbus’] principals of charity and patriotism,” Michael Salerno, grand knight of Knights of Columbus Lexington Council 94, told LexObserver. The group has long fundraised for local charities that help veterans, youth organizations, mental health services, and those with intellectual disabilities, he said.
The signature item that will be auctioned off at the gala is the American flag that’s flying over the Battle Green, Frank Schapfel, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 94, said.
“It’s a limited edition thing, you can’t just buy it,” Mona Roy, vice chair of the Lex250 Commission, said. “It’s an honor to get it…it’ll be particularly meaningful this year because of the 250th.”
The Knights of Columbus are putting the gala on in partnership with the town’s Lex250 Commission.
“When we first mentioned this idea, we thought it would be a great opportunity not only to celebrate the 250 but also celebrate the values behind it which is community, volunteerism, supporting each other, and giving back,” Roy said. “This gala is an opportunity to celebrate all of that, not only the anniversary but the spirit of what Lexington is, which is really community and caring for each other.”
Tickets to the event are $150 each and can be purchased online. Attendees can also reserve a table for a group of eight guests for $1,200. For a limited time, people can use the promotional code, “TABLE200” when purchasing a table reservation to get a $200 discount.
The deadline to buy tickets to the event is March 23.