Light Up Ahwatukee Beer & Wine Gala

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024

Embracing the theme of “24 Karet Gold,”  Ahwatukee’s largest 21+ community celebration, The Light Up Ahwatukee Beer and Wine Gala is happening this Friday. The atmosphere is further heightened by the addition of casino gambling tables, exciting wine pulls, whiskey experiences, and more; all while raising funds for local non-profit organizations. The Spring gala from LUA comes on the heels of the organization's latest successful holiday festival this past November. This is the 27th anniversary of the Beer and Wine Gala which will take place on Friday, April 19th at Foothills Golf Club. The year’s theme is black and gold and guests are encouraged to dress in cocktail attire which starts with newly granted VIP Access. 

Light Up Ahwatukee’s charity indoor/outdoor charity fundraiser is an all-inclusive ticket that includes unlimited beer and wine varieties curated by the board president/sommelier allowing attendees to enjoy a diverse selection of libations, incredible live music, 20 casino tables, and games, multiple raffle prizes which are up to $750+, exciting wine pulls, whiskey experiences and more; all while raising funds for local non-profit organizations.

This year, Light Up Ahwatukee has partnered with local brewery and pub, Wren Südhalle (South Hall); the latest concept from Arizona-based award-winning Wren House Brewing Co. that celebrates traditional European beer styles, culture, and food. Südhalle, which just opened in Ahwatukee in September 2023. This new addition to the community encompasses a European-style beer hall that serves a rotating list of their own and imported craft beer, wine, and cider along with a concise menu of Bavarian-influenced pub food.

Wren Südhalle will be the gala’s primary beer sponsor for the event which means, all event attendees' tickets include unlimited complimentary pours all evening. Wren will have 3-5 different beers on tap throughout the night for guests to enjoy as they get introduced to one of the hottest craft beer venues in town. The popular wine pull station will feature wines from local wineries such as Los Milics, Arizona Stronghold and Winery 1912, along with familiar ones like Far Niente and Caymus. 

The Cellar, Caffe Boa and Scout and Cellar are among the local businesses that have made wine bottle donations, adding extra variety and excitement to the wine pull. As far as the wine tasting throughout the event, “Wine enthusiasts are in for a treat,” says Reyes-Smith who is also a certified sommelier. “From crisp and refreshing Pinot Grigio to bold and full body Riojas, there is a wine style to please every palate.”

We are also very excited to have Ahwatukee’s brand-new LUSH Cafe and Lounge join us as our whiskey experience sponsor for the evening, which will feature their saxophonist throughout the evening. 

In addition to all the experiences guests enjoy with their all-inclusive tickets, LUA has also introduced a brand-new VIP option for a limited number of guests. All Gala VIPs will be welcomed with early access at 5pm, an hour before the actual event kicks off. VIPs will be welcomed on the back side of the clubhouse and will enjoy live music with Ahwatukee’s own, Contents May Shift, along with access to the shaded, outside VIP lounge and lush couches under the pergola all evening long, VIP-only casino tables and hors d’oeuvers station. Along with the listed offerings, VIP admission also includes double the casino cash and a special commemorative LUA wine glass.

In addition to the new VIP hour this year, the 21+ Beer and Wine Gala is also changing up the landscape a bit when it comes to setup. 

“The Foothills Golf Club has done extensive renovations to the property over the past few months, which we are very excited for our Ahwatukee community to see. If you aren’t regulars on the course, be prepared to be wowed,” says Tony Hultz, LUA logistics coordinator. “While all event components our past attendees have come to love and enjoy, we are mixing it up a bit this year. In addition to the VIP lounge outside, we will also host a slew of casino tables on both the front and back patios of the venue. Guests have previously enjoyed the casino room, but we feel like adding a few tables outside both patios for either a more quiet and private experience or playing with live music in the background will really up the caliber of this year's event. We will also be adding Poker tables to the mix. Guests who wish to partake in a poker game amongst fellow residents will have the opportunity to sit down and play poker whether a VIP or regular guest. 

Live music is always a great part of the event and this year’s Gala lineup includes Ahwatukee's own, Contents May Shift from 5:00 -7:15pm which Lil’ Debbie has recently converged from four past members and a newly added member, Jill Fortunato, well-known from Corpus Christi. Jill has played with the Lil’ Debbie Band in the past for over 10 years and after 24 years playing in the Valley, LUA is so excited to welcome the new band to the stage. The headliner of the night is The Pickup Lines, a very popular, high-energy party band, who will take the stage at 7:30pm until 10pm. The Pickup Lines are very well known throughout the Valley for their energetic performances at Wasted Grain and Copper Blues to name a few, and play a wide sorts of genres from Shania Twain and Rage Against the Machine.

Along with ticket sales, LUA raises money through a 50-50 raffle and raffle prizes valued as high as $1200 such as staycations, gift certificates to local restaurants, salons, sporting events, theater; spa packages; jewelry; gift baskets and sports memorabilia. Some of this year’s highlights include a variety of creative goods and experiences from Arizona Grand, Desert Diamond Casino, and the Wigwam. 

“We always are in search of new and exciting experiences for our guests and this year, our sponsors did not disappoint," says raffle chair, Kimberly Bolton. “We are continually impressed by our amazing community and their donations. New Image Med Spa is donating almost $2,000 worth of aesthetic services," says Bolton. “We also have local experiences up for grabs like our "Pub Crawl Experience” which includes hot spots like Tukees, Bonfire, ZTejas, Florencias, and The Hub. Other packages include scavenger hunts, Bearizona, a downtown dinner experience from Wren and Wolf, and an eye-catching limited edition Yeti, a chockful of outdoor toys for the entire family.

"As an established business in the community, we are excited to donate our services to the Gala. We love Ahwatukee and look forward to becoming more involved,” says MJ Winters, from New Image Medspa. 

When it comes to a charity partner, LUA is partnering with Ahwatukee local, Brandon Riggs and his charity, “My Special World.” His non-profit is a beacon of hope and empowerment for children with special needs.” Brandon is an energetic and empathetic advocate,” says LUA board President, Maria Reyes-Smith. “We met Brandon back in November at our Light Up Ahwatukee Holiday Festival and haven’t stopped thinking about him and his organization since. His nonprofit represents a profound commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and celebration of children with special needs and embraces all classmates who might be different. He reflects everything our board wishes to promote and more, says Reyes-Smith.” 

My Special World offers children a diverse array of activities aimed at fostering growth, development, and self-confidence while building self-esteem and showcasing dancing, storytelling, and other talents. 

“We are beyond ecstatic to introduce unique charities to our Ahwatukee community,” says Reyes-Smith. “Bringing awareness to other local charities less known by others supports our mission of the newly branded Light Up Ahwatukee board, in addition to the board’s commitment to sponsoring the Foothills Holiday Lights. We are committed to growing this organization and look forward to adding many more events to LUA’s signature events that help provide thousands of dollars in contributions.” 

To sum it up, Light Up Ahwatukee’s charity indoor/outdoor charity fundraiser includes unlimited beer and wine varieties curated by the board president/sommelier allowing attendees to enjoy a diverse selection of libations, incredible live music, 20 casino tables, and games, multiple raffle prizes up to $750+, a wine pull and more; all while raising funds for local non-profit organizations.

Highlighted sponsors for the 2024 Light Up Ahwatukee Beer and Wine Gala include Spencer 4 Hire Roofing, Big O Tires, Vero Pizza, PostNet, Ahwatukee Foothills News, Ahwatukee 411, Vanderwall PR, Arizona Grand, Cellar 443, Lush Cafe and Lounge, in addition to many other supporting sponsors. 

VIP tickets are $150, and GA tickets remain the same cost as last year at $100 per person which includes unlimited beer and wine, cuisine from Foothills Golf Club, live music, a commemorative 2024 wine glass and $100 casino cash. 

The best way the Ahwatukee community can support LUA in 2024 is to volunteer, sponsor, support local, and come out and enjoy the gala. While there is an ATM on-site at Foothills Golf Club, don’t forget to bring extra cash to purchase Split-The-Pot 50/50, raffle tickets for amazing experiences, wine pull, additional casino money and more. For questions or further information about LUA Beer and Wine Gala please visit lightupahwatukee.org. 

Light Up Ahwatukee is an 21+Event featuring wine, beer, and culinary delights…and what would a gala be without live music? This year we are stoked to announce we will have TWO bands entertaining our guests.

LIVE MUSIC
CONTENTS MAY SHIFT - 5:00PM VIP
6:00-7:15PM

Live music is always a great part of the event and this year’s Gala lineup is sure to impress the locals. Hitting the two stages for the night are Ahwatukee's own, Contents May Shift from 5:00 -7:15pm which Lil' Debbie Band has recently convered from four past members and a newly added member, Jill Fortunato, well-known from Corpus Christi. Jill has played with the Lil’ Debbie Band in the past for over 10 years and after 24 years playing in the Valley.

THE PICKUP LINES
7:30-10:00PM
LUA is so excited to welcome a new band to the stage. The headliner of the night is The Pickup Lines, a very popular, high-energy party band, who will take the stage at 7:30pm until 10pm. The Pickup Lines are very well known throughout the Valley for their energetic performances at Wasted Grain and Copper Blues to name a few, and play a wide sorts of genres from Shania Twain and Rage Against the Machine.

Don’t forget to bring extra cash to purchase your raffle tickets for amazing experiences worth $750+, our popular wine pull, additional casino money, our Split-the-Pot 50/50 raffle, tasting experiences and more.

NEW FOR 2024
VIP Wine and Beer Gala
5PM (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)

GA Pass to the Beer and Wine Gala

• Complimentary wine and beer all evening long (Please enjoy responsibly)

• Evening Meal Ticket included

• Live Entertainment/Music

• A commemorative 2024 LUA wine-tasting glass

• $100 in Casino Cash

• Casino-Style Gaming Opportunities (and chances to win!)

• An evening out with 500+ or so of your closest friends

VIP EARLY ACCESS Pass to the Beer and Wine Gala

• 5PM EARLY ACCESS TO EVENT (ONE HOUR OF ADDITIONAL TIME)

• Complimentary wine and beer all evening long (Please enjoy responsibly)

• VIP Hors d'oeuvres Station

• Evening Meal Ticket included

• Live Entertainment/Music

• VIP 2024 LUA wine-tasting glass

• $200 in Casino Cash

• Early Access to Casino-Style Gaming Opportunities

GA Wine and Beer Gala
6-10PM

Entertainment