Photo by Laine Kaminski
The band Stampede, dressed in their best western attire, kept the sold out Urban Garden Party dancing into the night.

By Alyse Horn

Clad in decorations worthy of a John Wayne movie, the Mattress Factory transformed into the Wild West for its annual Urban Garden Party that raised $250,000 for the museum.

Mitchell Schwartz, who is a regular attendee of the garden parties, said he was initially skeptical of the western theme, but in the end “Barbara [Luderowski] and Michael [Olijnyk] have done it again.”

“Once again, Mattress Factory has put on an unrivaled party,” Schwartz said.

The evening was filled with hor d’oeuvres and drinks provided by over 40 food and beverage vendors, such as Penn Brewery, Monterey Pub and Wigle Whiskey.

Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash impersonators were seen on stage and mingling with guests, while the band Stampede kept the country vibe alive throughout the night. There was also a mechanical bull set loose for the hundreds of partygoers to ride and a booth available for attendees to receive temporary western-style tattoos.

Samantha Strahota, communications and marketing manager for MF, said this year’s fundraiser was “wildly successful.”

“We’re grateful to have had an eclectic mix of more than 1,300 guests who truly embraced the theme and had a wonderful evening while helping to raise vital operating funds for the museum,” Strahota said.

For more information on the Mattress Factory, click here.

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