Friends to Garden Dinner

Saturday, September 13th, 2025 from 5pm to 10pm

Join us for this can’t miss event benefiting the amazing Community Garden of Allegheny Commons!

The Community Garden of Allegheny Commons invites everyone to the fifth annual Friends to Garden celebration. This fundraiser directly helps the garden flourish and give back to the community. Not only does the event benefit the garden but it is a great time, with great food, and an excellent way to engage with the neighborhood! Tickets for the event include a cocktail hour, buffet dinner, dessert, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, silent auction, and 50/50 raffle. See below for more details and FAQs.

Proceeds
Garden Facts
Dinner Details
FAQ
2024 Gallery
Tickets

Benefiting the Garden and Community

All proceeds from the dinner go to the garden to fund ongoing maintenance of the garden and tools, gardening supplies, community engagement event supplies, and garden improvement projects.

Past Projects and Events
  • Annual Easter Egg Hunt
  • Halloween Cookout and Candy
  • Deutschtown Pride
  • New Composting Bins and Foundation
  • The Pavilion
  • The Beehives and Honey Spinner
  • Purchase of Two Peach Trees Inside the Garden Space
  • LED Lighting
  • Soil Testing
  • New Garden Beds and Bed Repairs
Potential Future Projects
  • Signage Improvements
  • Garden Entry and Shed Accessibility, Safety, and Security Improvements
  • Educational Banners
  • Solar Panels and Battery Power Generator
  • Orchard Surrounding the Garden
  • Blacktop Mural
  • Additional Rain Barrels
  • New Garden Bed Number Signs
  • Even More Garden Beds!
  • Continued Community Engagement Events!

Garden Fun Facts

  • The garden was founded in 2018, starting out with 15 beds in an old vacant tennis court. Today, the garden has blossomed into 54 beds in total bringing together over 75 gardeners and over a hundred more from the community! This couldn’t have been done without the community’s generosity
  • We have gardeners from Allegheny Commons Apartments, Pressley Highrise, Deutschtown, Allegheny Center and other parts of the northside. We also have gardeners from Troy Hill, the East End, Mt. Washington, and Downtown.
  • In 2024 gardeners reported harvesting over 550lbs of produce.
  • In 2024 the garden diverted 4000lbs of food waste and organic material and dedicated 300 volunteer hours to produce over 500lbs of high quality compost.
  • The garden’s three beehives produced a whopping 80lbs of honey over the course of 2024, and provided to gardeners and community members. Additionally, the honey was used in a collaborative brew at Allegheny City Brewing to produce the incredibly delicious ACBee’z Honey Amber.
  • Learn more about the Garden here!

About the Dinner

Your Friends to Garden Dinner ticket includes:

  • Cocktail Hour
    • Welcome Cocktail Prepared by one of our own gardeners
    • Tuscan Table A generous spread of assorted cheeses, cured meats, seasonal vegetables, olives, and artisan breads, crostini, and crackers, served with dill dip, white bean & rosemary dip, jam, and mustard.
    • Fresh Garden Honey
    • Live Music From First Cut
    • Screen Printing Print your own Community Garden branded tote bag with Artist Image Resources (AIR)
  • Buffet Dinner Prepared by Rania’s Catering
    • Panzanella Salad Toasted bread cubes tossed with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, fresh basil, and a light vinaigrette
    • Herb-Marinated Grilled Chicken Boneless breast with a fresh pesto finish (nut free)
    • Pork Tenderloin Served with a reduced balsamic-blueberry sauce
    • Tuscan White Bean Salad With fresh oregano and red onion
    • Potato Salad Prepared with a tarragon vinaigrette
    • Grilled Vegetable Platter Featuring zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, peppers, asparagus, carrots, and portabella mushrooms
    • Assorted Rolls & Whipped Butter
  • Dessert
  • Beverages Available throughout the evening
  • Opportunity to bid in numerous high quality silent auctions and 50/50 raffle
  • The company of your garden friends and new friends alike

FAQ

  • All proceeds go to the Community Garden at Allegheny Commons.
  • The dinner is rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather we will do our best to make accommodations to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests. We recommend checking the weather forecast before attending and dressing accordingly. 
  • Dress Code: There is no dress code. We want our guests to feel comfortable and express their individual style. Feel free to dress in whatever makes you comfortable & confident. Guests typically wear a range from smart casual to date night attire. Shorts and jeans are welcome. 
  • It is strictly 21+. There will be a welcome cocktail, local craft beer, and an assortment of wine available throughout the evening. While we want everyone to have a good time, the safety of our guests is our top priority. We encourage responsible drinking and ask that if you choose to drink that you do so in moderation. If you plan on consuming alcohol, please arrange for a designated driver or utilize alternative transportation options to ensure a safe journey home.
  • Dietary Restrictions: Your dietary needs are important to us. We want to do our best to ensure that all guests can enjoy the event to the fullest. Please let us know immediately of any allergies. We will try our best to accommodate them.
  • Accessibility: We strive to make our event accessible to all attendees. There is parking available near the entrance for those with mobility limitations – please reach out to us in advance of the event if you require this accommodation. The space sits on a single level with accessible pathways between the garden beds. The bathroom at the venue, however, is not ADA accessible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and encourage individuals in need of accessible facilities to make necessary arrangements before attending the event. 
  • Parking: Parking is quite limited. We encourage attendees to consider alternative forms of transportation, such as carpooling, ridesharing, using public transportation, biking or walking to reduce the demand for the limited parking spaces. The small lot adjacent to the garden accommodates 10 cars. Its entrance is off of Stockton Avenue between Anderson & Sandusky Streets. We do have access to the parking lot of building behind the garden for overflow. That lot is located on East Commons. To get there from Stockton take a right onto East Commons and it will be the first parking lot you see on the right hand side. The gate to exit the auxiliary lot will be closed & locked during dinner. Please let a gardener know should you need the gate to be opened during that time.
  • Location: The garden and event are located on the North Side at 240 Stockton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
  • Time: The event begins at 5pm and ends at 10pm. If you would like to continue your evening we highly recommend a visit to one of these exceptional neighborhood establishments.

2024 Friends to Dinner Garden Playlist by Justin Johnson

Tickets

We hope to see you next year!