Homer community members and museum enthusiasts turned out in all their best finery Saturday night at the Porcupine Theater in support of the Pratt Museum during their annual Red Carpet Ritz Gala fundraiser.
The formal event, what Pratt Museum co-Executive Director Whitney Harness called their “signature fundraiser event,” featured multiple opportunities for attendees to donate to the museum, including live and silent auctions, a new Chocolate Decadence Dessert Auction, and a final paddle bid toward the end of the evening where anyone in the audience could donate $50, $100 or $500 by raising their auction paddle.
Jim Anderson, Homer resident and Homer Council on the Arts board of directors vice president, served as Master of Ceremonies and conducted the live auction and donation calls. Hors d’oeuvres were provided by Bell’s Catering.
The event also featured a quilt raffle. The “Northern Flora Quilt,” created by the Kachemak Bay Quilters, was bestowed upon local resident Tiffany Fisk following the drawing for the winning ticket.
Anderson also announced the winners for the costume contest held during the first part of the Ritz. “Best Accessories” went to Jan and Ed Knutson. Jan Zook was awarded “Best Hair,” while “Best Tiara” went to Chelsea Arno. Boyd and Marie Walker were nominated for “Best Couple.” Katie Jo Gamble was named “Most Glamorous,” and “Best Disguise” went to Pratt board secretary Savanna Bradley for her appearance as “Weird Al” Yankovic.
The final hour of the evening included live music by the KP Brass Band on the Porcupine Theater stage.
The Ritz is a Homer and Pratt tradition, having been put on annually by the museum board members and staff for over 30 years. This year, the museum raised over $24,000 for general operations. Harness wrote on Monday that the funds will help keep the museum facilities, exhibits and grounds maintained and operational, and support the “less-exciting, behind-the-scenes” aspects of the work they do to sustain their commitment to the community through their mission-driven exhibitions and programming.
“I am deeply grateful to our amazing community for showing up in such incredible style to support the Museum at the Red Carpet Ritz on Saturday evening,” Harness wrote. “The generosity of our patrons, sponsors, auction item donors, and volunteers made this event a resounding success and highlighted so many of the reasons why I love living in Homer and am proud to be part of this community.”
Sue Fallon, president of the Homer Society of Natural History, Inc. board of directors, thanked the community for the support they showed at the Ritz.
“We welcome community input and invite you to visit the museum soon!” she said.
Learn more about the Pratt Museum and their exhibits and programming online at www.prattmuseum.org, or visit them in person at 3779 Bartlett Street during opening hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The KP Brass Band plays on the Porcupine Theater stage during the Pratt Museum’s Red Carpet Ritz fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Boyd and Marie Walker win “Best Couple” in the costume contest during the Pratt Museum’s Red Carpet Ritz fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
(from left to right) Jim Anderson, serving as master of ceremonies, announces the winners of the quilt raffle alongside Pratt Museum board member Kate McGregor and board treasurer Jennifer Bartolowits during the Pratt Museum’s Red Carpet Ritz fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Gala guests browse through items up for bid in the silent auction during the Pratt Museum’s Red Carpet Ritz fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
