An Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River: Take Me to the River
Join us for the big river's biggest night
Live auction preview
This year's program will feature a river-themed live auction. Discover more about each item, gather your friends, and prepare to place your bids!
Can't make it to the gala? You can still support our cause by setting up a proxy bid, allowing a designated bidder to place competitive bids on your behalf up to your specified maximum. Please contact Allyson at apertry@fmr.org or Tessa at tenroth@fmr.org for more details.
In-Home Dinner by Beth Dooley
Enjoy a sustainably and locally sourced dinner for six in your home prepared by renowned James Beard Award-winning food writer Beth Dooley. The menu will be inspired by Beth’s book The Perennial Kitchen and will feature recipes that embrace regenerative agriculture. Fine wine will be provided by Solo Vino.
Beth Dooley has authored and co-authored over a dozen books celebrating the bounty of America’s Northern Heartland, including The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen with Sean Sherman, winner of the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook.
The dinner will take place at a mutually agreed-upon date. The highest bidder will also leave with a signed copy of The Perennial Kitchen.
Donors: Beth Dooley and Peter Gove
Guided Mississippi River Tour
The winner and three guests will enjoy a two-hour boat tour during summer 2027 with FMR Executive Director Whitney Clark and board member John Anfinson, noted river historian and former superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. During the tour, you will explore the features and learn the history of Pool 2, the portion of the Mississippi River that extends above the Hastings Dam to the Ford Dam in St. Paul.
Donors: John Anfinson, Whitney Clark, Geoff Tilsen
Five-night stay at St. Croix Valley bluff cabin
The winning bidder of this item will enjoy a relaxing getaway at a cabin on a bluff overlooking the protected St. Croix River south of Osceola. This Mike McGuire-designed cabin sleeps 6 and features a large deck, a fireplace, kayaks, and a sauna. You can experience both summer and winter recreational activities onsite or nearby.
The winner will also receive a $100 gift certificate to Watershed Cafe in Osceola, which specializes in sustainable comfort food crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. You will work with the cabin owners to schedule a five-night stay between now and June 30, 2027, excluding holidays.
Donor: A longtime FMR supporter
FMR Staff & Board Makers Gift Basket
Treat yourself to a very special basket filled with handmade crafts, treats and unique goods by FMR's staff, board and their families. The lucky winner will go home with:
- MN State Fair ribbon-winning honey granola from Associate Director Sara DeKok
- Black currant-ginger jam and elderberry-cassis jam from Board Member Beth Dooley
- Canned peaches from Sean DeKok
- Syrup and honey from Board Member Stewart Crosby
- Homemade Italian limoncello from Board Member Peter Gove
- Jar of raspberry jam from Conservation Director Alex Roth
- River-themed watercolor from Senior Ecologist Laura Domyancich-Lee
- Ramp butter from Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O’Connor Toberman
- Kernza pumpkin chocolate chip bread by Individual Gifts Officer Allyson Petry
- Fly ties and screen prints from Board Member Jake Keeler
- Blue kyanite necklace and matching earrings by Michelle Bierma
- Apple butter and applesauce by Board Member Lynn Broaddus
- Two coffee mugs handmade by Board Member Ronnie Brooks
Donors: Michelle Bierma, Lynn Broaddus, Ronnie Brooks, Steward Crosby, Sara DeKok, Laura Domyanich-Lee, Beth Dooley, Peter Gove, Jake Keeler, Colleen O’Connor Toberman, Allyson Petry, Alex Roth
Overview
We're thrilled to welcome you back to our annual fall fundraiser for the first time in two years. This year, we've reimagined the evening with brand-new river experiences designed to immerse you in our work to protect and restore the river.
Event program
5:00 pm Check-in commences, cash bar and passed appetizers
6:00 pm River experiences (*see below for descriptions of the four experiences)
6:45 pm Buffet opens
7:30 pm Seated program begins
8:10 pm Program concludes
Experience the river your way
Kick off the evening by choosing your own adventure from four river-focused experiences in and around the historic Nicollet Island Pavilion. You'll have the option of a behind-the-scenes tour of Saint Anthony Falls Labs, a hands-on prairie restoration, a clean water science and food tasting featuring innovative river-friendly crops, or arts activities inspired by the Mississippi River. There's an experience for everyone!
As the evening unfolds, you'll savor seasonal fare, enjoy the excitement of our river-inspired live auction and raffle, and hear about our work to achieve our vision of a transformed and thriving Mississippi River. The night also offers the perfect opportunity to connect with our river community.
Purchase tickets by September 10 to secure your spot on the adventure of your choice. Space is limited.
River experiences
You must choose only one experience when purchasing a ticket. All experiences will happen simultaneously. Space is limited, and tickets may sell out.
Prairie Party: Seeds, Science & Restoration
Immerse yourself in nature with FMR's Land Conservation team at the Nicollet Island prairie restoration site. Explore a restored prairie, hand-seed the site, collect native seeds, and learn about FMR's pollinator survey work. Come ready to dig into the science behind restoring vital river habitat. As part of the experience, you will walk in knee-high vegetation. FMR recommends wearing closed-toed shoes and pants.
Accessibility: Attendees will walk approximately 0.7 miles round trip to a restoration site via paved or crushed-gravel paths. Please wear comfortable shoes for walking.
Eat, Drink & Protect the River: A Clean Water Crops Experience
Discover how agriculture can be part of the solution for cleaner water. Join FMR's Water team to learn about clean water crops and the Forever Green Initiative through interactive science demonstrations and a clean water crop tasting.
Accessibility: This event is in Nicollet Island Pavilion with no accessibility limitations.
Make Your Mark: Art & Advocacy for the River
Get creative for the river! Join FMR's Stewardship & Education team and local artist Kim Boustead for a hands-on art experience using natural inks to create one-of-a-kind prints.
Accessibility: Attendees need to be able to stand for the majority of this experience.
Lock, Dam & Learn: A Visit to the Saint Anthony Falls Lab* SOLD OUT
Go behind the scenes at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) with our Land Use & Planning team and FMR Board Member & SAFL's River Historian John Anfinson. Explore the fascinating work happening at SAFL, learn about its partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River, and dive into the big questions shaping the future of the Mississippi River's locks and dams, including FMR's current dam removal feasibility study.
Accessibility: Attendees need to be able to step up into a charter/school bus. You must wear closed-toed shoes to enter SAFL.
*Bus boards at 5:45 pm
Thank you to our generous corporate sponsors!
Become an event sponsor
Sponsors provide vital financial support, helping to cover the event costs, expand outreach, and enhance credibility, all while allowing Friends of the Mississippi River to stay focused on our mission. In return, sponsors gain visibility and goodwill, along with exclusive benefits only available to our generous sponsors.
Corporate opportunities
For more information, please check out our corporate sponsorship kit or contact FMR Development Director Sara DeKok at sdekok@fmr.org.
Individual opportunities
For more information, please check out our individual sponsorship kit or contact FMR Individual Gifts Officer Tessa Enroth at tenroth@fmr.org.
Questions?
If you wish to RSVP by phone or have an accessibility- or disability-related request to make your evening more enjoyable, please contact John Briel at 651-477-0910.