Lark in the Park: City Park’s Most Elegant Fundraiser

Picnicking in the Botanical Garden is not ordinarily allowed, but those off-limits grounds are exactly where the event will take place. The fundraiser is a rare chance to fête champêtre out on the most gorgeous 13 acres in all of New Orleans. The whole ordeal sounds glam, even before you hear about the unique opportunity to land a picture-perfect garden spot. Options include the Japanese Garden (where you can contemplate the delicate nature of existence), Outdoor Kitchen (where the walls dissolve and you understand the reason for the "season" in "seasoning"), or even the new Chapel of the Rain and Garden of the Sun (there seem to be limited photographs of this new addition online, which can only mean it's a setting too spectacular to be caught on film).

This year's event has two seatings, one from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and another from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $100 per guest, while sponsorship levels run from Oak Leaf Sponsor ($500 for two tickets) to the majestic-sounding Cypress Sponsor ($10,000 for a reserved table for 12). At the general admission level, "Picnic Pods" are limited to eight participants. No matter your level of tickets, all must be over the age of 21, so hopefully, there's already a sitter in your pod. The event is held by Friends of City Park, meaning your picnicking goes to helping secure City Park's future.

Patron pods can expect to enjoy individual picnic baskets with food from illustrious New Orleans restaurants, libations provided by the Goldring Family Foundation, and music and performances by "strolling entertainers." No elaboration yet on what that could mean, but sounds enthralling. Oh, and did we mention that you and your human compatriots will be surrounded by 2,000 species of plant life?

"Few experiences match an intimate and glamorous picnic in one of New Orleans's most prized landmarks. This year's Lark will be different, but we anticipate the community will embrace the fresh concept that our team has created," said Stephanie Bell, the executive director of Friends of City Park. "Given the community's reliance on the park for respite amid last year's trials, we anticipate Lark 2021 to be especially meaningful."