Louisiana Children’s Museum hosts 27th annual Play Soiree fundraising gala

Written By Alicia Vial

The Museum’s biggest annual fundraiser celebrating a night of “wild adventure”

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) is thrilled to announce its 27th annual adults-only fundraising gala, Play Soirée, presented by Manning Family Children’s. The event is set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the museum’s stunning 8.5-acre campus in the heart of City Park.

This year’s gala theme – Wild Things Moonlight Adventure – promises a magical evening inspired by the beloved children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. The museum will be transformed into a whimsical world, encouraging guests to embrace the theme with royal accents, faux fur and jungle prints for a night of untamed fun.

“Play Soirée is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the Louisiana Children's Museum, bringing together champions of education and child development from across the community to support LCM's mission to be a relevant solution to the challenges and aspirations of our community,” said museum CEO, Tifferney White. “This special evening invites adults to embrace their inner child while directly investing in the Museum’s ability to expand access for more children and grow our impact across the community.”

All proceeds from the gala will directly support LCM’s mission to foster learning through play, ensuring that LCM remains accessible to all children and caregivers in our region. 

The evening will begin with the patron party where there will be live music as well as unique bites and exclusive early access to the museum and silent auction. The event is also sponsored by John and Marye Nickens, Hancock Whitney, Gallo Mechanical, Agenda for Children and many more!

Event Highlights

  • Live Music: Dance the night away with the captivating sounds of the popular band Royal Essence.

  • Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry Raffle: Crown the evening with a chance to win a $5,000 shopping spree at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry's Metairie Showroom, located in the Lakeside Shopping Center. The raffle is sponsored by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry.

  • Signature Cocktail: Enjoy a custom signature drink created for the evening, the Royal Rumpus Punch. Spirits are generously donated by Goldring Family Foundation and Sazerac.

  • Gourmet Cuisine: Savor delicious food and specialty spirits while exploring the museum's unique exhibits. Restaurants and catering groups supporting the event this year include Dickie Brennan & Co. Catering & Events; Chapter IV and Chef Dook and Gretchen Chase; Louisiana Seafood; Coca-Cola Bottling Company United; JV Foods; Rouses Supermarkets; and other generous donors.

Event Details

  • What: Play Soirée: Wild Things Moonlight Adventure

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

  • Time: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with an exclusive Patron Party from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Where: Louisiana Children’s Museum, 15 Henry Thomas Dr., New Orleans, LA

  • Tickets: Available online for purchase.

  • Sponsorships: To learn more, contact Sharon Truxillo at Struxillo@lcm.org

###

About Louisiana Children’s Museum

Louisiana Children’s Museum has long been known for its work in the community through innovative outreach and nationally recognized programs that support children and advance the museum’s mission to contribute to the region's future prosperity by engaging children's potential and making that potential visible. Through play, shared explorations, and in dialogue with adults, LCM connects children to each other, their caregivers, their environments, and the community. Keep up with Louisiana Children’s Museum and future announcements at lcm.org and on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Previous

Beignets take center stage Saturday, Nov. 15 at the 8th annual Beignet Fest
Next

Historic New Orleans Collection awarded John Thompson Award for Courage & Justice