Event Information

General Information:

• The Gala will be held at the Lincoln Park Zoo in the newly renovated Lion House. The address is 2400 N Cannon Dr. Chicago, IL 60614.
• The dress is semi-formal. Men: Jacket + Tie, Women: Cocktail Dress. No casual or athletic clothing, please.
• The Gala will begin at 6:00 pm when guests will check in with staff. Directly following, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. At 7:00 pm, a plated dinner will be served where guests will enjoy remarks and a presentation. The bar will remain open until 10:00 pm for you to enjoy!

Check-in and Registration: 

• Check-in will be located right in the front entrance area of the Lion House for one hour following our opening at 6:00 pm. All guests will be given a place card, table number, and live auction paddle upon entry.
• After checking in, guests are welcome to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres until 7:00 pm. 

Parking and Transportation:

• If you plan on driving, free valet parking will be available at the Lincoln Park Zoo parking lot located on Fullerton Ave. Please take a ticket when entering the parking lot and proceed to the Zoo’s East Gate where the valet will be provided.
• If you plan on using a car service, please use the address 2400 N Cannon Dr. to arrive promptly at the front gate. Please instruct your driver to take a ticket. Pulling through the parking lot and staying for less than 30 minutes will result in no charge. The Zoo will not have the south or west gates open so you must enter through the east gates.
• Once you have arrived, head through the zoo entrance off of the main parking lot and follow the signs to the Lion House. If you choose to arrive early, guests are welcome to walk around the zoo and enjoy the park of Chicago's largest zoo!

Food/ Beverage and Allergies: 

• Prior to the event, guests must declare their entree choice for the evening so meals can be properly prepped. Sponsors will be asked to provide their guests' choices ahead of the gala. The options are Short Rib, Braised Salmon, or Vegetarian Risotto. If there are any anticipated issues, please reach out to Katie Lawler at katie@metrosquash.org so we may address them in earnest.
• Throughout the night, there will be a full-service open bar. Please enjoy the variety of cocktails, wines, beers, seltzers, and spirits.
• Various appetizers will be served throughout the night.
• If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please contact Katie Lawler at katie@metrosquash.org so we can best accommodate you.

Live Auction:

• For the evening, we will host a live auction with all proceeds supporting MetroSquash. You may choose to pay that night via credit card or at a later date by contacting Jake Oher at jake@metrosquash.org. There will also be opportunities to support MetroSquash outright if you feel so inclined.
• When available, please click on the "Auction Items" button at the top of the site for more details. The auction items are confirmed once that button is active.
• If you would like to sponsor/donate an auction item, please reach out to Jake Oher at jake@metrosquash.org.

• If guests are interested in being an event sponsor for the 2023 MetroSquash Gala, please register as a sponsor on the event website which will include details regarding advertisements and table guests. To confirm a sponsorship reservation, please email Jake Oher at jake@metrosquash.org.
• Sponsored tables seat up to ten individuals, inclusive of the sponsor.
• Please be aware that you will need to coordinate your guests' names, emails, and meal choices with MetroSquash in advance of the gala.

Amenities: 

• Other than having full access to the Lion House for the Gala, guests are also welcome to walk around the Zoo property and take a look at any animals that may still be in their outdoor spaces.
• Throughout the evening and prior to the event, guests are invited to walk around the Lincoln Park Zoo property. Please note that later in the evening, animals may not be as active.
• Washrooms will be available throughout the Lion House.
• There will be a coat check upon entry provided by the Lincoln Park Zoo.