AUBURN #- With its grand, winding staircase, beautifully carved fireplaces and high rising ceilings, The Cayuga Museum of History and Art makes for the perfect place to hold a party.

Saturday evening the museum and its staff played host to nearly 200 people for the eight annual Gala Cocktail Party and Raffle.

Executive Director Eileen McHugh said that the idea took shape when the museum was looking for new means to raise funds to compliment the annual dinner the museum has hosted every spring for more than 10 years.

“We were looking for another fundraiser,” McHugh said. “And we wanted to do something that was different from the dinner. This is something with hors d'oeuvres and drinks and something that people really seem to enjoy.”

In the process of planning the event, McHugh and the rest of the museum staff tried to find just the right time for the party.

“People really do look forward to this,” McHugh said. “They plan ahead on coming to this. Some people get all dressed up, some people are very causal and a lot of people plan on coming here with friends. It is right before the holiday season begins, it is always the Saturday right before Thanksgiving and it seems to be the perfect time to have something like this.”

Among those in attendance this year was Kathleen Meyer, of Auburn.

Meyer said that she and her family have been long time supporters of the museum and that they have been to the party for the past several years.

“We're here to support the museum,” Meyer said. “I think that it is a very historically important place. And this is a great time to be out and be here to support the museum.”

In the eight years the museum has held the party it has continued to grow, with each year raising the bar and drawing more and more supporters to the museum.

Joe Lopiccolo, a member of the board of directors of the museum and the chairman of this year's party, was pleased with the response.

“It is going very well,” Lopiccolo said. “We sold more tickets this year then we ever have before. We have a very good turnout. It is nice to see, there are a lot of people here that I haven't seen in a while and it is nice to see them all here in support of the museum.”

Along with the quilt show that the museum hosts every November through December, guests were treated to a fine selection of food and wines, catered by Alex Orfino, who has been creating the food for the extravaganza for many years now.

David Balloni, of Auburn, said he has been attending the party for the past four years and has always been pleased to lend his support.

“The food is fantastic, as always,” Balloni said. “The museum is one area of local history and art that is well worth seeing. I think this is great it gives you a chance to see what the museum has to offer.”

Lopiccolo said that this is an exciting time at the museum, with a new curator and plans to renovate the carriage house, the museum will soon begin the process of actively trying to raise funds for new projects.

And events like the cocktail party are a big help to allowing the museum to continue to offer all that it does and move toward the future.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” McHugh said. “We couldn't do what we do without events like this and all the great support from all these people.”