Art in the Garden Event to Benefit LICS

is hosting an evening of music, art and food in its garden in Ocotber. 

The 7th Annual Art in the Garden fundraiser on October 5 will benefit . 

Tickets are on sale for the event, which features Motown music from the band The Total Package, a meal from Belly's Catering, drinks and a silent art auction. 

"It's a great community event," said Wally Wingard, owner of the nursery and event planner. "It pulls together a lot of people from all walks of life. We call it a cool Carolina evening under the stars."

About 1,000 people are expected to show up for the event, Wingard said. Through ticket sales and the art auction, Wingard estimates  the event will raise $10,000 to $20,000 for LICS. 

LICS is a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and financial assistance for electric bills, prescriptions and housing to families in crisis. 

"There are a lot of organizations in the community that we could give to," Wingard said. "This is just one that we felt strongly about." 

Wingard and his wife used to run a food pantry for their church in New Jersey. 

"We were familiar with the need and the operation," he said. 

But when Wingard and his wife started Art in the Garden six years ago, it was just a nice evening event for their customers.

"We didn't know how many people would attend," Wingard said. "The first year we had about 250. The second year, we had about 700. So we said if we can get this many people together in one place, what kind of good can we do for the community?"

Tickets are $40 per person and are on sale on the Wingard's Nursery website. They can also be purchased at First Community Bank in Lexington and .

The event starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until 10:30 p.m.

Are you an artist? Wingard's Nursery is accepting submissions from artists until Aug. 27. Anyone interested in entering their art into the auction can call the nursery at 803-359-9091.