Come one, come all! The RAD Gala, which stands for Rising Above Disabilities, put on a show with a circus-themed fundraiser to expand their programs for adults and children with developmental disabilities. The Raddest Show on Earth, inspired by the circus-themed movie The Greatest Showman, put a circus spin on the traditional gala, with joy and nostalgia in every detail. From lobster corn dog Ferris Wheels and deep-fried Oreo sundaes to Monkeys in a (Whiskey) Barrel cocktails, guests enjoyed an evening of good old-fashioned fun and fundraising for a good cause.
Circus-themed centerpieces
Guests were greeted at cocktail hour with a choice of specialty beverages, a “Your Circus, Your Monkeys” barrel-aged Old Fashioned with a barrel of monkeys garnish, or a “You Wake ‘Em, You Take ‘Em” Spicy Margarita, a nod to the program’s camper curfew policy. Tray-passed hors d’oeuvres were curated to be familiar bites with fun presentation, setting the mood for a fun-filled night ahead. Mini stainless-steel skillets filled with gooey mac and cheese, pretzel bites served on a circus-painter palette, and mini lobster corn dogs served on a Ferris Wheel were all show-stoppers at cocktail hour.
Once invited into the reception, the table centerpieces integrated florals with golden circus animal statues and tickets. A circus snack mix of popcorn, animal crackers, and M&M’s was placed at each place setting. We served gourmet burgers with custom branded burger picks, paired with sides of elote salad and fries in red and white paper cups. Dessert stepped right up with a deep-fried Oreo sundae, served in a classic animal cracker box.
Mini Lobster Corn Dogs
The most memorable part of the evening was when the fundraising total was announced of a half million dollars, allowing the RAD organization to expand their program and accept more adults and children with developmental disabilities.
Congratulations to 24 Carrots Catering & Events and all of this year's ACE Award recipients!
All photos courtesy Amelia Lyon Photo/24 Carrots Catering & Events
The Raddest Show on Earth
Gala reception
Mini Mac and Cheese Skillets
RAD Gala decor
Pretzel Bites - Smoked Gouda Fondue, Everything Spice
Mini Lobster Corn Dogs, served on Ferris Wheels
Guests were greeted at cocktail hour with a choice of specialty beverages, a “Your Circus, Your Monkeys” barrel-aged Old Fashioned with a barrel of monkeys garnish, or a “You Wake ‘Em, You Take ‘Em” Spicy Margarita, a nod to the program’s camper curfew policy.
Gourmet Burger, Elote Corn Salad, French Fries, Mini Heinz Ketchup
Deep-Fried Oreo Sundae, served in Animal Cracker Boxes
Deep-Fried Oreo Sundae, served in Animal Cracker Boxes
RAD Gala
The Raddest Show on Earth
Circus-Themed Centerpieces
The Raddest Show on Earth
Submissions Now Open
It's once again time to celebrate the best of the best! Submissions are now being accepted for the Catersource 2025 Achievement in Catered Events awards (ACE)! We invite you to submit your best work from the past year. Join in the excitement and the spirit of our industry as we celebrate the hard work and exceptional accomplishments of our peers.
The categories for 2025 are:
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National Caterer of the Year
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International Caterer of the Year
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Catered Social Event of the Year
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Catered Fundraising Event of the Year
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Catered Wedding of the Year
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Catered Micro Event of the Year
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Product or Technological Innovation of the Year
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Sustainability in Catering
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Best Off-Premise Catering
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Best On-Premise Catering
To submit an entry to this year's ACE awards, please visit our awards portal at https://ace-gala.awardsplatform.com/
Important Dates
- Monday, February 19, 2024 | ACE Award Submissions Open
- September 1, 2023-August 31, 2024 | Eligibility Period for Entries
- Sunday, September 15, 2024 | Regular submission deadline ($125 fee)
- Tuesday, September 30, 2024 | Late Bird submission deadline ($175 fee)
If you are interested in entering in the Gala awards instead, you can enter the Special Event 2025 Gala awards in the same online portal as the ACE awards. Catersource + The Special Event will run February 24-27 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Both the ACE and Gala awards will be presented during the conference at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale.
