CRESTVIEW — There’s more to Saturday night’s “Evening in the Garden” than unlimited gourmet cuisine, free-flowing samples of the vintner and brewer’s artistry, and danceable live music.
When the last canapé is served, the last bottle emptied and dancing shoes are kicked off, it will be students at Crestview High School and Northwest Florida State College’s Fine and Performing Arts Division who will benefit.
The Oct. 22 Crestview Area Sister City Program and Northwest Florida State College event is the first soirée in the newly dedicated Jardin de Noirmoutier — Garden of Noirmoutier. The garden was created to honor the community and college’s 20th anniversary of partnership with Noirmoutier-en-l’Île under Sister Cities International.
Sponsored by Crestview’s Bob Sikes Airport, catered by Mary Richard’s A Grand Elegance and featuring music by regionally celebrated Jones and Company, the event revives the autumn wine gala, formerly a Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce affair.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Richard, one of the original wine gala founders, said. “It celebrates our 21 years of friendship with Noirmoutier.”
Proceeds benefit the Sister City program scholarship fund, administered by the chamber of commerce’s foundation, which, when established, will help facilitate travel to Noirmoutier by Crestview High Sister City Club students and Northwest Florida State show choir and traditional choir students.
Creating the Jardin de Noirmoutier was a community effort, including uncountable volunteer hours by Sister City program and Dogwood Garden Club members, and Northwest Florida State students and administrators.
“It’s a real community effort,” Sister City program treasurer Pam Coffield said.
The garden’s dedication follows the May 2015 naming of Noirmoutier’s main entrance roundabout in honor of Crestview.
Tickets for Saturday’s soirée are still available at www.CrestviewSisterCity.org.
What: “An Evening in the Garden,” a wine and epicurean gala, features gourmet food, fine wines, craft brews and dancing to live music by Jones and Company, in the Jardin de Noirmoutier garden overlooking the Twin Hills Park east pond.
When: 7-10 p.m. Oct. 22
Where: Jardin de Noirmoutier at the Bob Sikes Education Center, Northwest Florida State College
Tickets: $45 per person Tickets at Northwest Florida State College Bob Sikes center, or call 902-0904.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: An ‘Evening’ to remember