King Neptune Gala

Our 19^th  annual King Neptune Gala, which benefits The Tall Ship of Delaware as well as our education programs on ship and shore, will return on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

This year, we are pleased to honor City of Wilmington Mayor John Carney and First Lady Tracy Quillen Carney with the King Neptune Award. We salute them for their great dedication and community service for our City and State.

The Gala will be a festive event, held at the Tatiana & Gerret Copeland Maritime Center under our tents with a dockside cocktail reception, live music, a silent auction with mobile bidding, dinner , live auction, and moreg.

• 2025 Photo Album:  Enjoy photos of last year's Gala by volunteer Thom Unger.

Gala Tickets

Tickets will go on sale this summer. Host Benefactors with a gift of $1,500, will receive four (4) Gala  tickets

• You may purchase online, call our office at 302.429.7447, or mail a check noting “Gala Tickets" made payable to: Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Auction Donations

We are seeking donations for our Silent and Live Auction and hope you can support our biggest fundraiser of the year. Our online Silent Auction will open in mid-September and close the evening of Saturday, September 26 during the gala. Anyone can view and bid from anywhere. If you would like to donate an item, please contact KNF’s Office Administrator by email (link) or call 302.429.7447.

• Please download and complete our Auction Donation Form.

Gala Sponsors

Please consider sponsoring our most important fundraiser of the year.

Our 2025 Gala Sponsorship Form with benefits, fees, and details can be downloaded here.

Please complete the form, scan and email Jan Ross or fax to: 302.429.0350.

King Neptune Gala Sponsors

Godmother's Circle $10,000

King Neptune’s Court $5,000

Mermaid’s Circle $2,500

Patron $1,500

Gala Host Benefactors

Would you like to bring a group of four guests to the Gala? For a commitment of $1,500, you may participate as a Host Benefactor and support the important work of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. Please contact KNF by email or call 302.429.7447 and download the attached form.

Questions?

Please call the KNF office at 302.429.7447 or send an email to Jan Ross, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

Our Mission

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a non-profit educational organization with the mission of preserving and promoting the cultural and maritime heritage of Delaware and the Delaware Valley for the education and enrichment of all. The Foundation is a volunteer-based organization that built, owns and operates the Kalmar Nyckel.