From Arts of the Pamlico 

Arts of the Pamlico at the Turnage Theatre & Gallery will hold its second annual black-tie benefit on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fundraiser will be The Great Gatsby & The Roaring ‘20s: A Decade of Decadence. Tickets for the event are $60 each and will be available for purchase through Wednesday. Interested persons can call AOP at 252-946-2504 or visit the Turnage at 150 W. Main St. in Washington. There will be no door sales for this event.

The party will begin at 7:30 p.m. and run through 11 p.m. Guests will be treated to an evening designed to reflect the lavish and decadent roaring ‘20s. All attendees will be offered a complimentary champagne cocktail as they enter the theater and will enjoy a buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres presented elegantly on the Turnage stage. The evening will include non-stop dancing in the gallery to music of the era as well as a variety of more contemporary sounds presented by the Joe DiStefano Combo along with a live DJ.

The evening will also include surprise mini-events throughout, including additional live performances. Also included are cash raffles throughout the evening for items donated by local downtown merchants and businesses. Two cash bars will be available to accommodate all guests.

According the AOP executive director Joey Toler, the event promises to be exciting as well as playing a big role in supporting the organization’s mission.

“We had such a great event at last year’s Phantom of the Opera fundraiser,” said Toler. “Our event organizers started planning this year’s gala immediately following our last event, so you can be sure there will not be a dull moment all evening, and it will be a lot of fun.”

“For a hot time in the old town, dance the Charleston on down to the Turnage Theatre, ‘among the whisperings, champagne and the stars’ at the second annual black-tie gala,” said event co-organizer and AOP board member Jeff Phipps, quoting from “The Great Gatsby.”