GeekWire Gala 2016: Photos, tweets, and more from our sixth annual holiday bash in Seattle

Buzzing energy, awesome networking, cold cocktails, groovy dancing, an escape room, a museum, the Seattle 10, and a whole lot of fun — the GeekWire Gala 2016 had it all.

Thanks to the more than 1,000 of you who joined us Wednesday night for our sixth annual GeekWire Gala, presented by Wells Fargo, where geeks, techies, entrepreneurs, engineers, and everyone in between from the Seattle community gathered for a holiday celebration at the Museum of History & Industry.

The event featured three hours of networking, eating, drinking, dancing, and an all-around good time at MOHAI, where attendees had a chance to tour MOHAI’s exhibits, snap pics at the Moz photo booth (see those photos here) and solve puzzles at the WatchGuard Escape Room, created by Puzzazz. Also see photos from the WatchGuard Escape Room photo booth, and the Galvanize Geek Family Photo Booth.

And, you will not want to miss the report from Brian Westbrook at our media partner, KING 5, including a hilarious photobomb by a member of the GeekWire team at the end of the report.

The evening kicked off with a special VIP pre-party for GeekWire members, sponsors, and Seattle 10 startups aboard the Steamship Virginia V, a historic wooden-hulled vessel. Thanks to Regence BlueShield for sponsoring this fun gathering, and be sure check out ALLtech, the health insurance trust that provides fast-growing Seattle area tech companies with affordable coverage through the GeekWire membership program.

Continue reading for tweets, pictures and highlights from the night.

What do you think of this @brianwestbrook @bbookerK5 @jonathansposato #awkwardfamilyphoto from @geekwire's #GWGala …keeper?? #k5holidays pic.twitter.com/CLs7D3xAOY

— Brian M. Westbrook (@BrianWestbrook) December 8, 2016

Our cocktail napkin flying high last night at #GWGala next to @Boeing's first aircraft (the 1916 B&W Seaplane). Congrats to the #seattle10! pic.twitter.com/xJvy6jXYd3

— Pixvana (@pixvana) December 8, 2016

We had a great time at @geekwire 's 2016 #GWGala at the @MOHAI last night! pic.twitter.com/7M1eYD2s03

— Bader Martin, PS (@BaderMartin) December 8, 2016

Fun stuff with @JaredMonkey and crew @geekwire #GWGala pic.twitter.com/pTWOApnuxi

— Boaz Ashkenazy (@boazashkenazy) December 8, 2016

First through puzzle break! #GeekFashionista #GWGala @PSL pic.twitter.com/S3nbSmmmZI

— Ansel Santosa (@anstosa) December 8, 2016

We also had a chance to honor the Seattle 10, a group of 10 up-and-coming Seattle-area startups who are looking to change the world. Each of these innovative companies — chosen through a judging panel — sketched their business concepts on giant six-foot by six-foot cocktail napkins, and those napkins made their public debut at the Gala on Wednesday.

See KING5’s coverage of the Seattle 10 unveiling and check out photos of the cocktail napkins below.

A big thank you to everyone for coming out on Wednesday. And of course, this holiday tradition would not be possible without our wonderful GeekWire Gala Sponsors. They are:

Presenting Sponsor: Wells Fargo

Gold Sponsors: Regence, OfferUp, Bluetooth, Avalara, MOHAI, UPS Connect, Moz, Perkins Coie, WatchGuard and Sharp.

Silver Sponsors: EY, First Tech Federal Credit Union, RealSelf, Galvanize and Fuel Talent.

Supporting Sponsors: Stratos, Bader Martin, ALLtech, Puzzazz, #tagboard and Knoll.

Check out more photos from the event below.