A new community event is coming to downtown Fairhope as the Thomas Hospital Foundation prepares to host its inaugural Street Soirée on Oct. 4.

The afternoon gathering will bring together food, live music and community members while supporting Thomas Hospital and continued investment in healthcare on the Eastern Shore, a news release said.

Street Soirée is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. at The Apiary and along Bancroft and Equality avenues. The event will feature live music, locally inspired food, signature cocktails and opportunities to celebrate the physicians, caregivers, donors and neighbors who have helped shape Thomas Hospital over more than six decades.

The event comes at a significant time for the hospital following the August opening of its new four-story Patient Care Tower. The $40 million expansion was designed to help Thomas Hospital meet increasing demand for healthcare services as Baldwin County continues to grow.

The tower includes 25 new medical-surgical beds, a rooftop helipad to improve access for critically ill and injured patients, an additional floor for future expansion and space for a new and expanded cardiac catheterization suite.

“Street Soirée is really about celebrating what it means to have exceptional healthcare right here in our own community,” said event co-chairs Aeana Carpenter and Brooke Pilot in the release. “So many families on the Eastern Shore have a connection to Thomas Hospital, whether they were born here, welcomed a child here, received lifesaving care or had someone they love cared for here. We wanted to create an event that feels like our community while giving people an opportunity to be part of what comes next.”

Thomas Hospital has grown alongside the Eastern Shore for more than six decades. The 189-bed acute care hospital provides a broad range of services and is home to Baldwin County’s only open-heart surgery program and its only CARF-accredited inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

The continued investment in the hospital comes as Baldwin County's population expands and demand for local healthcare services rises. The new Patient Care Tower was built specifically to increase inpatient capacity while providing room for additional growth as future needs emerge.

For the Thomas Hospital Foundation, Street Soirée offers a new way to connect the community with that progress while highlighting the role residents have played in the hospital's history.

“Our community has always played an important role in the story of Thomas Hospital,” said Nathan Payne, director of Thomas Hospital Foundation. “As Baldwin County grows, we want to continue finding meaningful and engaging ways for people to invest in the hospital that serves their families, friends and neighbors. Street Soirée is a celebration, but it is also about ensuring Thomas Hospital has the resources, technology and facilities needed to continue providing outstanding care for generations to come.”

Designed to reflect the Eastern Shore, Street Soirée will bring guests together for an afternoon of food, drinks, music and storytelling while highlighting the people and milestones that have shaped Thomas Hospital.

Guests also will learn more about the Foundation's role in supporting patient care, medical technology, hospital facilities and programs that benefit patients throughout the region. The event also will highlight new sculptures planned for display on the Thomas Hospital grounds following Street Soirée.

Proceeds from Street Soirée will benefit the Thomas Hospital Foundation and its ongoing work to support Thomas Hospital.

Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and additional event information are available at ThomasGiving.org/streetsoiree.