FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Downtown Fairhope will host a new afternoon celebration next month as the Thomas Hospital Foundation stages its first Street Soirée, a fundraiser built around food, live music and the story of the Eastern Shore’s hometown hospital.
The inaugural event is set for Oct. 4, from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Apiary and along Bancroft Street and Equality Avenue. Proceeds will benefit the Thomas Hospital Foundation and its work supporting Thomas Hospital.
What guests can expect
Organizers describe Street Soirée as an event designed to reflect the character of the Eastern Shore. The afternoon will feature:
- Live music
- Locally inspired food
- Signature cocktails
- Storytelling that highlights the people and milestones that have shaped Thomas Hospital
- A look at new sculptures planned for display on the Thomas Hospital grounds after the event
The gathering is also meant to honor the physicians, caregivers, donors and neighbors who have been part of the hospital’s history over more than six decades. Guests will have a chance to learn more about the foundation’s role in supporting patient care, medical technology, hospital facilities and programs that serve patients throughout the region.
Event co-chairs Aeana Carpenter and Brooke Pilot said the idea is to celebrate having high-quality medical care close to home.
“Street Soirée is really about celebrating what it means to have exceptional healthcare right here in our own community. 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.”
A celebration after a major expansion
The event arrives only weeks after Thomas Hospital opened its new four-story Patient Care Tower in August. The $40 million addition was designed to help the hospital keep up with rising demand for medical services as Baldwin County’s population continues to grow.
The tower adds 25 medical-surgical beds and includes a rooftop helipad intended to speed access for critically ill and injured patients. It also contains an additional floor reserved for future expansion and space for a new, larger cardiac catheterization suite.
The tower opened to patients on Aug. 11, finishing about a month ahead of schedule after construction began in January 2025. The expanded cardiac catheterization lab is expected to be completed in 2027. Hospital leaders have said the building was designed specifically to increase inpatient capacity while leaving room for more growth as future needs arise.
At the opening, hospital officials also highlighted technology built into the new patient rooms, including sensors aimed at fall prevention and two-way video systems.
About Thomas Hospital
Thomas Hospital has served Fairhope and the Eastern Shore for more than 60 years, growing alongside one of Alabama’s fastest-growing regions. Today it is a 189-bed acute care hospital offering a broad range of services.
The hospital is home to Baldwin County’s only open-heart surgery program and the county’s only inpatient rehabilitation hospital accredited by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Those services mean many Baldwin County residents who need heart surgery or intensive rehabilitation can receive care without crossing Mobile Bay.
Thomas Hospital is part of Infirmary Health, which describes itself as the largest non-governmental, not-for-profit health care provider in Alabama. The system traces its roots to Mobile Infirmary, which opened in 1910, and today operates three acute care hospitals along with rehabilitation facilities, clinics and diagnostic centers serving southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and southern Mississippi.
The role of the Thomas Hospital Foundation
The Thomas Hospital Foundation raises money from the community to support the hospital. Its work helps fund patient care, medical technology, facility improvements and programs that benefit patients across the region.
Nathan Payne, director of the Thomas Hospital Foundation, said Street Soirée is meant to give residents a new way to connect with the hospital’s progress and to recognize the role the community has played in its history.
“Our community has always played an important role in the story of Thomas Hospital. 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.”
Why growth matters for local health care
Baldwin County has been among the fastest-growing counties in Alabama for years, drawing new residents to communities such as Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Foley and the beach cities. That growth brings added demand for hospital beds, emergency care and specialized services.
Thomas Hospital’s continued investment, including the new tower, is aimed at meeting that demand locally. The foundation’s fundraising efforts, including events like Street Soirée, are one way community members can contribute directly to that work.
A downtown Fairhope setting
By placing the event in the heart of downtown Fairhope, organizers are pairing the fundraiser with one of the Eastern Shore’s best-known gathering spots. Bancroft Street and Equality Avenue are in the city’s central business district, close to the shops, restaurants and galleries that draw visitors throughout the year.
The afternoon time slot and street-party format set Street Soirée apart from a traditional evening gala, and organizers say the goal is an event that “feels like our community.”
How to attend or support
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for Street Soirée are available through the Thomas Hospital Foundation. All proceeds will benefit the foundation and its ongoing work to support Thomas Hospital.
Event at a glance
- What: The first Street Soirée, hosted by the Thomas Hospital Foundation
- When: Oct. 4, 3-6 p.m.
- Where: The Apiary and along Bancroft Street and Equality Avenue in downtown Fairhope
- Features: Live music, locally inspired food, signature cocktails and storytelling about the hospital’s history
- Benefits: Thomas Hospital Foundation
- Tickets: Available through the Thomas Hospital Foundation