Whidbey Island Arts Council Spring Gala Dinner March 12, $210 Tickets

Coupeville diners can reserve a five-course tasting by Chef Ben with wine pairings at the Whidbey Island Arts Council spring gala presented by the Oystercatcher, with seatings at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12. Tickets cost $210 per person and include dinner, wine, service charges and a $54 tax-deductible donation directly to WIAC.

Advance purchase is required and tickets will not be sold at the door, WIAC and local outlets state; space is limited and organizers urge early reservation. Event listings across WIAC, Whidbey News-Times, Whidbey Weekly and regional calendars show the two seatings at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., while one calendar entry lists the first seating as a 4:00–6:00 p.m. block.

Proceeds from the evening will support WIAC’s 2026 initiatives, including the recently created Kay Parsons Memorial Fund for Visiting Artists. WIAC promotional materials and the group’s press release emphasize the community purpose: "This is particularly important for those who believe the arts are an important part of life on Whidbey Island."

The event is presented by WIAC Business Member the Oystercatcher; owners Sophia Kitay and Ben Jones are named in press materials and encourage community attendance. Menu and service are credited to "Chef Ben," and the program features a recorded playlist by local WIAC member musicians along with special guests including local artists, performers, writers and chefs. Organizers describe the evening as an opportunity to "show support for the arts, while simultaneously enjoying a wonderful evening of great food, wine and community."

Organizational context and charitable details appear on WIAC’s event page and regional calendars: Whidbey Island Arts Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that "fosters local artists and arts organizations through grants, fiscal management and sponsorship to provide outreach and awareness of the arts and culture on Whidbey Island." WIAC’s online materials list membership tiers at $50 per year for Individual/Supporter, $75 per year for Family/Youth, and $125 per year for Business/Gallery/Arts Org, and describe fiscal sponsorship services including monthly bookkeeping reports and annual tax preparation.

Listings show a discrepancy in venue naming: several outlets describe the dinner as at the Oystercatcher in Coupeville, while WIAC’s event page and some calendars list Osprey Fish Co., Coupeville as the site or organizer. Event publicity also notes that details appear on Oystercatcher and WIAC websites and on Facebook. Because listings vary, confirm the precise location and seating when reserving tickets through the Whidbey Island Arts Council website or the Oystercatcher’s event pages.

WIAC’s promotional copy closes with a community appeal: "Join in on what is sure to be an unforgettable evening of culinary delights, celebrating food, community and the arts on Whidbey Island." The spring gala is positioned as a fundraiser for WIAC’s 2026 programs and the Kay Parsons Memorial Fund, reinforcing the council’s role in sustaining island arts.