A lavish and magical evening of merriment is coming to one of St. Pete’s most beloved museums. Every year, hundreds gather for Great Explorations Children’s Museum’s annual gala, and this year’s spectacle is “Enchanted Extravaganza, A Knight for the Museum” taking place this Saturday, September 24 from 7 – Midnight at The Historic Coliseum in St. Petersburg.

As part of the mystical and extravagant gathering, gala attendees will travel back in time for an “immersive renaissance-themed evening fit for royalty, with a magical twist!” Lords and Ladies will delight in a decadent plated sit-down dinner, complete with a premium open bar, auctions, and tons of live and interactive entertainment.

Think of it as Medieval Times, but with a museum twist and some St. Pete flavor. Tickets are available now through Great Explorations here. Renaissance-style attire is encouraged, but not required.

In this resplendent evening of feasting and magic, guests will “journey through the mists of time to a forgotten era” as the gala brings heroic sword fighting, fortune telling, archery, catapulting, acrobatics, and live music to The Coliseum. Guests will even be invited to become an honorary knight as they challenge their strength in the most-time honored rite of passage: trying to pull the sword from the stone.

Incredible packages available at Enchanted Extravaganza auction

In addition to the feast and festivities, the auction will include an incredible array of packages, including a Tampa Bay Rays 2023 Season Suite with ballpark fare, a 3 Daughters VIP Brew Party for 25 with a private 4-hour rental from Star Trolley, and The Blake Luxury Vacation Rental in Blowing Rock North Carolina.

This event helps support the Great Explorations mission as it impacts so many lives in the community by providing creative, educational play to all families regardless of transportation or monetary barriers. The funds raised during this gala will support rich creative play programming at the museum, in surrounding neighborhoods, and in Title 1 elementary schools in Pinellas County.

Tickets are available now at greatex.org/enchantedextravaganza. Admission for the fundraiser is $200 per person and some sponsorships are still available for purchase. For those unable to attend the Great Extravaganza in person but who still wish to support Great Explorations Children’s Museum, options to stream the event virtually will be available.

Great Explorations Children’s Museum will also recognize one local community partner by presenting the inaugural Heller Educational Explorer Award. Named in memory of the late Dr. Bill Heller and his wife, Jeanne, the Heller Educational Explorer Award will celebrate Dr. Heller’s years of commitment to the museum’s board, mission, and the community, and will recognize a Great Explorations community partner that exemplifies the passion Dr. Heller had for education benefitting families in our community. The Heller Educational Explorer Award recipient will be announced during the Enchanted Extravaganza on September 24.

Great Explorations, located at 1925 4th Street North, has led the way as Tampa Bay’s first children’s museum, showcasing interactive, educational and immersive exhibits to delight the imaginations of children of all ages. From their For All Animals veterinary exhibit, STEAM lab, and surfboard climbers to the Lego Wall, Imagination Playground and kid-sized fire station, Great Explorations is a wonderland for kids in Pinellas County and beyond.