Key West Botanical Garden Seeks Sponsors for 90th Gala

The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden has launched a sponsorship drive for an anniversary gala planned for the evening of January 30, 2026. The event, titled Petals & Pearls, will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature dining and dancing under the stars to the music of Skipper & Friends featuring Channing Lynn, and will include a live auction. Organizers say underwriting and sponsorship will help sustain the garden as it prepares for its 90th year.

The request for sponsors arrives as the garden, which opened on February 23, 1936, approaches a milestone that links local conservation and recreation to a broader public policy history. Plans for the garden were first announced in early August 1934 as part of New Deal era beautification efforts. That origin places the site among civic projects born of federal investment in jobs and public spaces during the 1930s, and it underscores the garden's long running role in community life in the Keys.

For Monroe County residents the gala is more than a social event. Funds raised will support the garden's programs and day to day operations, helping preserve native and tropical plantings, educational outreach and visitor services that draw both local residents and tourists. As one of the Keys longest running attractions the garden contributes to the county's cultural and environmental assets and plays a part in the local tourism economy, especially during peak visitor seasons.

The sponsorship drive also highlights a common financial reality for local cultural institutions. Private underwriting and event revenue have become essential to sustain programming and facility maintenance, particularly for organizations that operate with limited public funding. The garden's outreach to businesses and individuals offers a pathway for civic engagement, enabling community stakeholders to invest directly in conservation, education and local tourism infrastructure.

Those interested in underwriting or sponsoring the Petals & Pearls gala are asked to contact the Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden for sponsorship details. Additional information is available through the Key West Chamber of Commerce community news channels. As the garden moves toward its 90th anniversary, the gala represents both a celebration of local history and a practical effort to secure resources needed to keep the institution viable for the next decade.