As the unprecedented bushfire crisis continues, and the monumental task of rebuilding begins for affected communities across the country, Broadsheet is bringing together some mates for an evening to raise money for the relief effort.

On Sunday February 9, we’ll be bringing our rugs to the garden behind the NGV International for a twilight picnic with food and drinks by some of our favourite bars, cafes and restaurants, and donating 100 per cent of the proceeds to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

The full line-up is still to be announced, but American barbeque joint Dexter is making sliders; there’ll be katsu sandos by Saint Dreux; Embla chef and owner Dave Verheul is making a tomato, horseradish and kombu summer salad; and Smith & Daughters’ Shannon Martinez is doing vegan nachos.

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For dessert, Vue de Monde is bringing chocolate cherry mousse-filled lamingtons – normally only available as petit fours at the fine diner – to the table, Tonka pastry chef Kay-Lene Tan is creating a flaky dessert, and Piccolina is scooping gelato.

There’ll also be dishes from Maha, Old Palm Liquor, Hector's Deli, Pie Thief, Baker D Chirico, Mr Miyagi, Black Star Pastry, Baker Bleu and many more.

Martinez and Attica’s Ben Shewry will be swapping pans for decks and DJing alongside Fascinator (aka Children Collide frontman Johnny Mackay), and there’ll be Negronis by The Everleigh Bottling Co, a one-off cocktail by Capitano’s Darren Leaney, Asahi beers, Bombay Sapphire G&Ts, Capi mixers and Yering Station wines.

Everyone involved is donating staff time and produce for the occasion, and Dann Event Hire has donated event infrastructure. Entry is by $35 donation (free for kids under 12) and tickets are limited. All the money spent on food and drinks will be donated, too.

We’re also having an online auction of one-of-a-kind experiences, such as the chance to design your dream ring with Australian accessories and apparel designer Lucy Folk, and a holiday for two at Byron Bay’s boutique hotel Raes on Wategos. More on that soon.

Money raised will go towards Australian Red Cross emergency teams – trained staff and volunteers currently helping on the ground in bushfire-affected areas – as well as its grants program, which aims to help communities rebuild, and its three-year bushfire recovery plan. You can read more about the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund here.

Broadsheet’s Bushfire Relief Twilight Picnic will run from 5.30pm on Sunday February 9 at NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Entry is by $35 donation, or free for kids under 12. Find more information and buy tickets here. This is a cash-free event.