The Spring Gala at the Vacaville Museum has quickly become the most important fund-raising event of the year for the nonprofit, bringing in funds that support the function of the museum all year long.

The theme for Saturday’s gala is “Through the Looking Glass,” which honors the museum’s past and its future with a whimsical flair, says Executive Director Clara Dawson. “It has a lot of different meanings but one of them is to reflect, to look at where we’ve been to imagine where we’re going to go,” she said.

“I think we’re always looking to try and spark some of that joy and some of that imagination in our exhibits and I want that to carry over even into our fundraising events, right? So having the opportunity for adults to experience that whimsy is really important,” Dawson said.

Dawson is definitely a fan of the theme herself, joking “Who doesn’t love Alice in Wonderland?”

The gala includes a sit down dinner, auction, award ceremony and after party. Auction items in the past have included desserts and gift baskets.

This year marks the 41st year of the Vacaville Museum, which relies heavily on community donations. That’s why the spring gala will also honor this year’s museum Legacy Leader, awarded to a person or organization that has been instrumental in supporting the mission of the museum.

This year’s Legacy Leader is First Northern Bank.

“They really understand the operational cost of a museum, I think, and that’s really rare to find in a donor, somebody who really understands what it takes to put these programs and these exhibits on and supports you in that endeavor,” says Dawson.

“This is just an opportunity to really highlight and showcase the folks that have given time, support, dedication to the organization and this year, First Northern Bank definitely deserves to receive that award,” she said, adding that there are records of their donations going back nearly 40 years.

Dawson says that in the future, the museum is hoping to continue to increase their community and educational programming, a feat that could be made possible with the help of active donors. “Well over 60 to 80 percent of our budget comes from the support of the community,” she said.

Although the gala is a big night of fundraising for the museum, it also hopes to be a night of fun and recognition for those that have offered their support through hard times.

“We just really wanted to take the opportunity to honor those folks who have given a lot to the museum, especially in the wake of COVID,” she said. “Our board felt that those people who had engaged with the museum deserved to, you know, feel appreciated, especially for the work that they did to keep the doors open.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Through the Looking Glass” Spring Gala

WHEN: April 26, 5-9 p.m.

WHERE: The Opera House, 560 E. Main St. Suite C, Vacaville.