Fernbank Invites Guests to ‘A Timeless Affair’

The museum’s fundraiser gala returns on October 5

Fernbank Museum will once again host its annual black-tie gala, A Timeless Affair, on Saturday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. This special evening of fun and fundraising will highlight Fernbank’s fascinating new Armored Animals exhibit and raise money to support the museum’s ongoing work. All proceeds from the event will help fund the world-class exhibitions, impressive giant-screen movies, family activities and immersive nature programs for which Fernbank is known.

This year’s Timeless Affair will feature a lovely sunset cocktail hour on Dinosaur Plaza, followed by a seated dinner among the dinosaurs in the Great Hall. Live music and dancing, a private viewing of Armored Animals and a silent auction will round out the evening. Guests will have the chance to bid on a showcase of exclusive items generously donated by local businesses and supporters.

There will also be a paddle raise to support Fernbank’s Museum Access scholarship initiative. More than 50,000 students throughout the state visit Fernbank on a school field trip each year — made possible, in part, by the success of A Timeless Affair.

“The annual gala plays an important role each year as it helps fund programming for Fernbank, allowing the museum to spark curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of human history and the planet’s rich biodiversity,” said Jennifer Grant Warner, president and CEO of Fernbank. “The funds from this event help bring innovative exhibits, dynamic programs, captivating films and essential school programs to our community.”

Event organizers and sponsors

The honorary chair of this year’s fundraiser is philanthropist Margaret Hodgson Ellis Langford, whose dedication to Fernbank continues her family’s environmental legacy. Langford’s mother grew up in a house located in Fernbank Forest, which the Hodgson family, alongside Atlanta civic leaders, had the remarkable foresight to preserve as “a school in the woods for nature studies.” Established as a non-profit in 1939 — making it one of the oldest conservation-focused nonprofits in the United States – Fernbank has continued to preserve and restore the 65 acres of old-growth forest as part of its ongoing mission.

Event chairs, Robin and Neale Fisher, Stewart and Crawford Jones and Mary Clancy and Kevin Peak generously support Fernbank’s mission to ignite a passion for science, nature and human culture through exploration and discovery.

The planning committee for A Timeless Affair includes corporate chair, Wab Kadaba, as well as patron chairs, Stacy and Sachin Shailendra. The event’s scholarship chairs, Elizabeth and Shane Hornbuckle and Cherie and Ed Van Winkle, along with auction chairs, Abby England, Jean Harvey Johnson and Juan Johnson and Holly and Townsend Young are also recognized — and appreciated — by the museum.

A Timeless Affair 2024 is sponsored by Delta Air Lines, Georgia Natural Gas and Romanoff Renovations. The patron party hosts are Susannah Frost and Jeff Yost. And the advisory chairs are Michelle Davis and Honorable Walter W. Davis and Drs. Kalinda and Kevin E. Woods.

The details

The fundraiser takes place on Saturday, October 5, starting at 7:00 p.m. and promises to be an enchanting night of glamour, connection and generosity. Fernbank’s fall exhibit, Armored Animals, opens the same day and will run through January 8, 2025.

For more information on A Timeless Affair, including how to purchase tickets or make an online donation, visit fernbankmuseum.org/atimelessaffair.