The Dickinson Catholic Schools Fall Gala promises to be an evening of fine dining and entertainment. The evening starts with a social at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, in the Dickinson Elks Lodge.
"This year's theme is 'Cowboy Up!' The decorations have a western theme and we're trying to get the menu around it," said Rene Schmidt, who is on the media committee.
Dinner is served at 6 p.m. featuring chicken wild rice soup, tossed greens with bacon dressing, hard rolls with honey butter, barbecued ribs, roasted chicken, Yukon gold potatoes, chuck wagon corn and rustic apple torte with ice cream.
Because of the cowboy theme, Schmidt expects the atmosphere to be more relaxed than in the past.
"A lot of people come casual, others do dress up," she said. "It's an evening of fine food, entertainment and reconnecting with each other," she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The evening is highlighted by the auction of items donated by the business community, parents and children in the Catholic school system.
"It's really a fun night. The food is fabulous," she said.
Sister Dorothy Zeller, principal at Trinity Elementary East and West, said the students in every classroom are working on projects for the auction. One group is making a nativity set and another is preparing a divine mercy devotional basket. Third graders are recording the rosary for a religious basket. Another group is making self-portraits.
"The parents coordinate each project at each grade level," she said.
Entertainment includes the younger students snaking through the dinner crowd to the music, "Achy, Breaky Heart" and "Boot Skootin' Boogie." Older students are singing Toby Keith's hit single, "If I was Jesus." Trinity High School's jazz group is providing dinner music.
The evening concludes with a dance to music of the Stagecoach Jukebox.
"It's one of the classier social events of the year and it's a chance to meet a lot of people," said Zeller.
The goal is to raise $40,000, which goes directly into the Catholic schools budget.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It's spent locally on our Catholic schools. The money stays here," said Schmidt. "It's become a very big event for us."
Tickets are available from any of the Dickinson Catholic schools.
