Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s 2026 Alfresco Gala: An Evening Under the Oaks, honoring Main Street Capital, raised $500,000 to fund the Arboretum’s conservation and education programs. Main Street Capital has been a long-time, valued partner of the Houston Arboretum, supporting efforts to connect Houstonians of all ages to the natural world.
The annual fundraiser, hosted on the Arboretum’s Nature Center Courtyard and Lawn, welcomed over 400 nature-loving guests for dining and dancing under the live oaks to celebrate Houston’s wild landscapes and native habitats. With live music by Infinite Groove setting the tone, guests enjoyed a seated dinner surrounded by the Arboretum’s vibrant spring landscape.
The evening featured a signature blackberry margarita and a family-style dinner by Cotton Culinary, with a menu inspired by the Arboretum’s pollinator gardens. Incorporating honey, fresh herbs, and seasonal ingredients, the meal included dishes such as beef medallions, shrimp scampi, and a standout brie and honeycomb appetizer, followed by an indulgent dessert selection including strawberry basil and cherry thyme mousse shooters, cinnamon maple orange tarts, and maple honeycomb cheesecake.
Lead underwriters included Marilyn and Harry Kirk, followed by Carrie and John Hays Compton / Amy and Leyton Woolf, John and Mary Austill Flournoy / McCord Development, John P. McGovern Foundation, and Moonshot Compost.
The program included remarks from Board President Stephen Newton, who welcomed guests and presented the Greenleaf Award to Main Street Capital, accepted by Arboretum board member and Main Street Capital EVP Jason Beauvais. Event Co-Chairs, Katherine and John Plumb and Katy and Sandy Shurin, also thanked guests for their generous support.
In a particularly memorable moment, Co-Chair and Board Member Sandy Shurin asked how many guests were attending for the first time, prompting a show of hands across the crowd — an inspiring reflection of the Arboretum’s growing reach and the many new supporters being welcomed into its community.
A highlight of the evening was the guided nighttime hikes through the Arboretum trails, led by the Arboretum’s conservation and education staff, where guests experienced the sights and sounds of nature after dark. Surrounded by a cool spring breeze, groups encountered a chorus of frogs — at times even louder than the music — and enjoyed a rare opportunity to connect with the landscape and one another in a uniquely immersive way.
Guests enjoyed a jewelry pop-up with Lindsey Leigh Jewelry benefiting the Arboretum, as well as a popular wine and spirits pull. The evening also featured a lively silent auction offering curated experiences such as private dinners, travel and hotel stays, theatre and museum packages, Arboretum exclusives, and premium wine offerings, including magnums, and a highly coveted Ooni pizza oven generously donated by Bering’s.
The evening reflected the Arboretum’s unique ability to bring people together in nature while advancing its mission of conservation and education. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center looks forward to expanding upon the night’s energy and generous support as the organization looks ahead to its 60th anniversary in 2027.
Photo credit Anthony Rathbun
