Gala for Children’s Museum is Nov. 30
Guests will celebrate Oak Ridge’s 75th birthday with a 1940s-style evening at the 17th annual Gala benefitting the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The Gala, with the theme “Oak Ridge at 75: A Night of Nostalgia,” will be from 6-9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at the Museum, 461 W. Outer Dr., Oak Ridge.
Radio personality Frank Murphy, of WNOX, will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies.
Murphy, recently voted “Knoxville’s Finest Emcee” by readers of Blank Newspaper, hosts the afternoon show on Classic Hits 93.1 WNOX. He’s also a member of the improv comedy group Einstein Simplified.
The Gala is among many community events announced by Explore Oak Ridge that are celebrating Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary throughout 2017 and 2018. Construction began on the “secret city” of Oak Ridge, founded to support the war effort during World War II, in September 1942, and construction of the government sites Y-12, X-10 and K-25 began in 1943. Gala guests are invited to dress as original Oak Ridgers of that 1940s era or to wear semi-formal attire.
The Gala evening will feature musical entertainment, fine dining and live and silent auctions.
Welcoming guests will be a trio of musicians featuring Wendel Werner on piano, Mike Palmieri on tenor sax and Diedre Ford as vocalist. Among youth entertainers will be the Oak Ridge High School Choral Ensemble with 1940s tunes and tap dancers from the Oak Ridge Academy of Dance.
Clinton auctioneer Bear Stephenson, of Stephenson Realty and Auction, will conduct a live auction. Among items will be a pop-up restaurant dinner for 6 by Knoxville Chef Paul Moody; a vintage-inspired necklace from Karen’s Jewelers; original pottery from acclaimed potter Bill Capshaw; and a photo signed by Ed Westcott, whose photos record Oak Ridge’s earliest days.
Gala tickets are $125 per person, or $800 for a table of eight. Visit bit.ly/cmorgala2018 for more information and to purchase tickets, and call Beth Shea at CMOR at (865) 482-1074 to learn more about Gala sponsorships.