Slip Away to Julian for the Harvest Moon Dinner

Here’s a great excuse to head east: the Ilan-Lael Foundation’s fourth annual Harvest Moon Dinner returns to the Julian back country for an unforgettable evening beneath the harvest moon.

Enjoy a poetry reading by the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, bid on original artwork during the silent auction, and dine at a long open-air table surrounded by art, gardens, and studios. Best of all, every ticket supports the foundation’s artist programs, making this memorable night a meaningful way to celebrate creativity and community.

Illuminated Grounds and a Long Table

The night opens with the property lit up top to bottom, which is our cue to wander the gardens and studios before dinner is served. Once we sit down? A formal, chef-driven meal built around regional produce and thoughtful wine pairings. It’s the kind of long-table dinner where strangers become seatmates and seatmates become new friends.

A Reading From the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate

This is the part we’re most excited for. Ada Limón – author, poet, and 24th U.S. Poet Laureate – takes the mic, and her work lives right at the meeting point of nature and art. On a hillside property built around exactly that overlap? It’s going to hit differently.

Bidding on Works From the 2026 Fellows

Once the reading wraps, the silent auction opens on original pieces by Ilan-Lael’s 2026 Visiting Artist Fellows. And here’s the kicker: even if we don’t take one home from Julian, the whole collection heads to La Jolla’s Athenaeum Music & Arts Library for a longer exhibition and sale. Two shots at finding something worth hanging on our wall.

Executive Director Marianne Gerdes says it best: “Harvest Moon is one of our favorite events of the year as we bring together art enthusiasts, philanthropists, and the community.” At its heart, it’s still a celebration of art, nature, and the space where they overlap.

See you there!

Round up a plus-one, throw a layer in the car for the mountain air, and point east. Julian is calling, and every dollar backs the foundation.

📆 Saturday, September 26 | 3 PM – 8 PM
📍 930 Orchard Lane, Julian
🎟️ Call (760)765-3427 to reserve
ℹ️ Get to know more here

See you there, San Diego!