5 Ways to Make This Your Best Royal Bash Ever*
*Even if you Can’t Attend
Ok, I admit it. It’s been years since my husband and I attended Hopkins Education Foundation’s annual Royal Bash gala. We’re excited to return this year, but we could use some help getting back into the swing of things. Like, what’s changed? Can I preview the auction items beforehand? Is the cake auction still a thing? (Spoiler alert: it is.)
So I went straight to the source and talked with HEF’s event coordinator, Jacqui Barnard, about how to get the most out of Royal Bash. She gave me five amazing tips that apply whether it's your first time or your fifteenth. Skip to #4 if you can’t attend and want to know how to help or bid in the silent auction from home.
1. TODAY (2/21) is the last day to get tickets. Royal Bash is more fun with friends. So motivate your friends, neighbors, and coworkers (age 21+) to join you and make the most of it as a night out.
Here’s what you need to know (more in our FAQ):
Royal Bash is Saturday, March 1 (that’s one week away) at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley (free parking).
Individual tickets are $150, and Hopkins school staff tickets are $75.
The evening begins at 5:30 pm and includes a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, games, a delicious D’Amico Catering dinner, a cake auction, live music from Watson, dancing, and more. We’ll also share a presentation about how HEF helps Hopkins and raise funds for our Special Project. Check out the full schedule here.
This year’s Special Project, Outdoor Opportunities, will inspire Hopkins students to develop outdoor and leadership skills, build community, and experience joy and connection to the natural world with activities like camping, hiking, canoeing, and more. Learn more here.
2. Put on your party clothes. Got a killer cocktail dress that’s itching for its chance to shine? A snazzy blazer that gets compliments every time? Then dust off those duds! “Fun and festive” is the order of the day, whether you’re going with a skirt and heels, slacks and a sweater, or a suit and tie. (All of which are typical Bash attire, btw.)
3. Make it easy with the Givi app. Oh you know there’s an app for that. It’s called Givi and you can get it here. When you log in, make sure to use the same email as you did when you bought your tickets so it all connects up easy-peasy. Then add your credit card information, and you’re ready to bid, bid, bid! For pro-level Bash bidding, take care of this before the event. Pecking away at your phone to log into your account while standing in line is … awkward and just slows you down. You’ll also need the Givi app to participate in your favorite Royal Bash games like Plinko (for boozy prizes), Heads or Tails (back this year by popular demand!), and the Lock and Key Mystery Box.
So here’s your to-do list:
Download the Givi app.
Sign in with the same email address you used to buy your tickets. Do NOT purchase an additional virtual bidding ticket if you already bought an admission ticket.
Add your credit card information to your account before the event to save yourself time in line on the day. See “Manage Tickets” in your confirmation email or sign in online and review your account in the top right corner.
Activate notifications so you are updated about the event and when you get outbid.
The app is truly the best way to bid and pay for games at the event.
4. Get a sneak-peek at the live auction and Great Gatherings. If you’re like me, you walk into Bash knowing what your budget is for the evening, then proceed to stand with your mouth agape as you survey all the amazing items on offer, desperately trying to decide which ones to go for. Friends, it doesn’t have to be this way. You can see now the marquee items and travel packages that will be auctioned off in the live auction, as well as the Great Gatherings that you can sign up for on the day. Another pro-level tip: if you want to bid for something as a group, make your plans together before Bash. Groups that try to organize on the fly can get out-maneuvered by those who came prepared.
In the live auction, you’ll find amazing getaways to Mexico, the Grand Canyon, and Up North, as well as a private chef’s dinner, everything you need for a grilling party, Purple Rain (the Prince musical) tickets and a SIGNED pair of Paige Bueckers-designed Nike GT Hustle 3 sneakers. Hopkins grad (class of 2020) “Buckets,” as she’s often known here, is the first collegiate athlete to have a pair of Player Edition Nikes. See which one you are ready to raise your paddle for here. If you can’t attend and you’d like to bid on items in the live auction, ask a friend to raise a paddle on your behalf or contact HEF to arrange a proxy bidder.
If you’re new here, Great Gatherings are small-scale events hosted by community members in the summer and fall. The popular “Moms and Mimosas” and “Dudes and Drams” events are coming back for their umpteenth year in a row, plus there’ll be a fresh assortment of new gatherings on offer. You’ll find the Great Gatherings sign-up table in the silent auction room at Bash, but you can preview now. No bidding is necessary; pay a fixed price per ticket. Great Gatherings typically sell out at the event, but any remaining available tickets will be offered to the public after the Royal Bash.
5. Silent Auction bidding starts NOW (even if you can’t attend). There are more than 150 items, experiences and gift cards just waiting for you. It’s win/win - you get something cool and you support Hopkins schools. Anyone can win silent auction items, whether you attend Bash or not. Which means Grandma and Grandpa can support HEF’s work while snowbirding in Arizona, hint-hint. Just install the Givi app or head to the Qgiv website and start bidding. HEF will be happy to mail gift cards won in the auction; winners can also arrange pick up from the HEF office. Get started today!
Attendees: You already have a ticket to bid. Just sign in with the email you used to buy your tickets. (see #3 above).
Not attending: Become a “virtual silent auction bidder” and bid from home. It’s free to register and get set up to bid.
Bonus Tip #6. You can also support the Royal Bash by:
Buying a raffle ticket. Tickets are on sale now. Purchase for $100/each from a board member or call our office at 952-988-4097 (cash, check, or debit card per MN gambling rules). The raffle prize is $1,000 value. The winner will be drawn at the Royal Bash. You need not be present to win.
Donate directly to the HEF Royal Bash fundraiser.
Let’s make this year’s Royal Bash, celebrating 30 years of igniting students' love for learning, the best one yet. On behalf of my fellow HEF board members and the whole HEF staff, thank you for supporting our mission with your donations, event attendance, and good vibes. We can’t wait to show off some of the programs HEF is bringing to life in our schools with your help.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to shop for a steampunk-inspired fascinator in a luscious royal blue.
