After taking a year-long break, the New Orleans Museum of Art's beloved outdoor fundraising event "LOVE in the Garden" is making its highly anticipated return to City Park this fall. The popular gala, scheduled for November 7, 2025, will once again transform the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden into an elegant outdoor venue designed to raise crucial funds for the museum's operations and programs.
The event's absence in 2024 was due to the sculpture garden hosting the Visionaries Gala instead, which celebrated the garden's remarkable 20th anniversary milestone. Museum organizers have also made a strategic decision to move the event from its traditional September timing to November, providing guests with cooler and more comfortable weather conditions for the outdoor festivities.
The evening's entertainment will feature the popular local band Where Y'acht, while an impressive array of New Orleans' finest restaurants will provide culinary offerings throughout the garden. One of the most anticipated highlights of the evening will be the Cocktail Challenge, where talented local mixologists will compete to create the most innovative love-inspired libations. Both professional judges and attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites, with prizes awarded to the winning creations.
The stunning backdrop for this year's celebration features more than 100 magnificent sculptures spread across 12 beautifully landscaped acres surrounding the museum. The crown jewel of the collection remains Robert Indiana's iconic "LOVE" sculpture, which has been a cherished part of the garden since 2003 and serves as the inspiration for the event's name and theme.
"LOVE in the Garden offers the opportunity to come together to celebrate one of the city's most important cultural destinations: NOMA's Besthoff Sculpture Garden," explained Susan M. Taylor, the museum's director. Her statement emphasizes the event's significance not just as a fundraiser, but as a celebration of one of New Orleans' premier cultural assets.
This year's festivities will embrace the theme "Light up the Night," a thoughtful tribute to the event's presenting sponsors and longtime museum supporters, the Frischhertz family. The honorary chairs for the evening will be Ellen and Stephen Frischhertz, Janet and Jimmy Frischhertz, and Lori and Kevin Frischhertz, representing multiple generations of the family's commitment to the arts in New Orleans.
Director Taylor expressed the museum's gratitude for the family's continued support, stating, "By honoring the Frischhertz family as chairs of this year's event, we celebrate their long-standing history as generous benefactors to NOMA." The family's dedication to the museum spans many years and represents the kind of community partnership that makes cultural institutions thrive.
Tickets for LOVE in the Garden begin at $100, making the event accessible to a broad range of art enthusiasts and community supporters. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets and find additional information by visiting noma.org, where full details about the evening's schedule, participating restaurants, and special activities will be available as the event date approaches.
