Rob Giardinelli
The Texas Spring Gala season is in full swing during April with so many fantastic events to support that we have two columns for the month. Below are our Top 10 stellar galas and signature fundraising events we recommend you have on your radar in the Lone Star State between April 1st and April 15th. See you there?
Fort Worth – THE BIG GOOD – April 4
Fort Worth’s THE BIG GOOD. Founders Gary and Kelsey Patterson & Leon Bridges
Founded by Gary Patterson, Kelsey Patterson, and Leon Bridges in 2020, THE BIG GOOD has quickly become one of Cowtown’s most anticipated annual social events. Held at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall, the event attracts several hundred of Cowtown’s most notable sociables, philanthropists, and music lovers who don their best Western-chic attire for a dazzling night of fun. The evening benefits three nonprofits in North Texas: T3 Tarrant To & Through Partnership, United Community Centers, and UpSpire. Guests who attend will experience a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, and a performance by Leon Bridges.
Dallas – Junior League of Dallas Milestone Luncheon – April 5
Dallas’s Junior League of Dallas Milestones Luncheon. Guest speaker Robin Roberts
One of the most anticipated luncheons in Dallas each year, the Junior League of Dallas Milestones Luncheon will include Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts as the event featured speaker. Held at the Omni Dallas Hotel, the afternoon will draw several hundred of the city’s top sociables, community, and business leaders, who will don their finest luncheon-chic attire for the Friday afternoon fun. The event will also honor long-time supporter and sustainer Kathleen Gibson for her tireless support of the Junior League of Dallas over the years in a variety of roles.
Fort Worth – The Cliburn – Classically Cliburn – April 5
Always the city’s most coveted gala invitation of the year The Cliburn’s annual Classically Cliburn Gala. This year’s event will have a European flair to it with an Italian theme where patrons will don black-tie ensembles to help get them in the jet-set international spirit for an epic night of fun. Co-chaired by Gaylord and Bradley Lummis, the Italian countryside touches will be felt throughout the night where guests can experience a delectable Italian-themed menu paired with wines from the region. The night will be capped off with dancing where revelers will be able to cut a rug to the tunes of the Jordan Kahn Orchestra.
Galveston – The Bryan Museum – Coastal Cowboys – April 6
Galveston’s Bryan Museum Gala. Co-chairs George and Kelley Georgiades
Time to saddle up for the city’s most coveted gala invitation is back with a sold-out event that brings a nod to the land and sea of the Texas coast. The 2024 Coastal Cowboys Gala benefiting The Bryan Museum will celebrate the history and legacy of coastal ranching with several hundred of the city’s (and region’s) most notable community leaders, philanthropists, and sociables. Chaired by Kelley and George Georgiades, the event will honor Gerald Sullivan, a fifth-generation rancher in the area with the Buck ‘n Ball Award for distinguished individuals in the roots of the American West. Held on the Bryan Museum grounds, the night will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner with locally sourced items with dinner and dancing capping off what is bound to be an epic evening.
Houston – Performing Arts Houston Kaleidoscope Gala – April 6
Houston’s Performing Arts Houston’s 2024 Kaleidoscope Ball. Co-Chairs Kristin and Lance Reynolds. Photo Courtesy of Jacob Powers Photography
Color us artful. Held in the stunning Wortham Center’s Grand Foyer is one of Space City’s most fun and anticipated events. The Performing Arts Houston’s 2024 Kaleidoscope Ball is back with a Mariposas de Guadalajara theme that will honor the rich culture and history of Guadalajara and the state of Jalisco. Chaired by Kristin and Lance Reynolds, the event will honor Jesse H. Jones II for his support of the organization. The night will include a cocktail hour in Fish Plaza, live and silent auctions, a dinner and program that will include musical performances by HSPVA’s Mariachi Nuevo Jalisco, Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus, guitarist Jesus Lozano, and Magos Herrera. The night will be capped off with an after-party with cocktails, late night bites, and music by DJ Nick Serena.
Houston – Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Center Celebration of Reading – April 9
Houston’s Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Center Celebration of Reading. Co-chairs Maria and Neil Bush. Photo by Gary Fountain
One of Space City’s most beloved philanthropic events is turning 30 this year. Celebration of Reading benefiting the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Center Foundation and Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is expected to draw over 1,000 to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts for a night of fun and great conversation. Co-chaired by Neil and Maria Bush, it will also include children and grandchildren of former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush serving as honorary co-chairs. The night, which is expected to raise over $2 million for the organizations, will include conversations with five best-selling authors: Jean Becker, Chris Bohjalian, Gary Gulman, James McBride, and Brad Taylor.
Austin – The Kindness Campaign – Art of Kindness – April 12 & 14
Austin’s Art of Kindness. Co-chair Susan Thomsen, Founder Andra Liemandt, and Co-chair Lisa Juaregui
Art of Kindness benefiting The Kindness Campaign, which provides social-emotional learning programs for schools, is a weekend-long event with festivities for the whole family. The fun kicks off with a gala on April 12th at The Line Hotel in Austin where several hundred will don their favorite Austin-chic attire for an evening of fun and fundraising. Founded by philanthropist Andra Liemandt, and co-chaired by Lisa Jauregui and Susan Thomsen, the evening kicks off with one of Austin’s best and most imaginative cocktail receptions of the year, which includes a champagne pull and experiential activations to get you into the true spirit of kindness. The night will also include a seated dinner, live auction, and after-party that lasts well into the night.
Round Top – The Festival Institute Gala – April 13
Round Top’s Festival Institute Gala. Co-chairs Reenie Harwood Collins and Linda Plant
Now internationally known, Round Top is so much more than the Texas hub of finding amazing antiques and curiosities. It is also home to one of the state’s most majestic arts spaces. Founded by James Dick, one of a select few Texans who has received both the Texas Medal of Arts and History-Making Texan Awards, The Round Top Festival Institute is a world-class music performance venue with an annual Summer program that draws students from all over the world.
The Round Top Festival Institute’s 2024 Gala will draw several hundred people from not only Round Top, but sociables, art patrons, and philanthropists from Austin, Houston, Dallas, and beyond to Round Top Rifle Hall in their best Round Top-chic attire. Co-chaired by Reenie Harwood Collins and Linda Plant with Ray Benson and Lyle Lovett serving as honorary chairs, the Un-Gala, Gala will include silent and live auctions, a seated dinner courtesy of Royers Cafe, testimonials from alumni, and musical performances that will surely bring the crowd to their feet.
Houston – Houston Grand Opera – Opera Ball 2024 – April 13
One of Space City’s most notable and coveted annual galas is bringing the fun to a whole new level this year. Benefiting the Houston Grand Opera, Mirror Ball 2024: An Evening of Reflection showcases how opera is reflective of us in a unique, innovative way. Held at the Wortham Center, it promises to feature several hundred of Space City’s most beloved and passionate art patrons will don a mix of black-tie and white-tie for what is bound to be an epic night. Co-chaired by Isabel and Ignacio Torres, the night will include red-carpet arrivals, a cocktail reception, and a silent auction before taking to their seats for a seated dinner by Chef Luis Roger of BCN and MAD. During the dinner, revelers will be treated to entertainment before heading to the dance floor where the Wortham will be transformed into one of the world’s best discotheques seen recently.
Dallas – Dallas Museum of Art – Art Ball 2024 – April 13
Dallas’s Art Ball 2024. Co-chairs Paul von Wupperfield and Andy Smith
One of Dallas’ hottest gala tickets for decades is always the Art Ball. Benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art, Art Ball 2024 will feature several hundred of the city’s top art patrons who will descend upon the DMA for a night of revelry and fundraising. This year’s event theme, Momentum, highlights the numerous acquisitions and programs that DMA has curated post-COVID, which has made Dallas and DMA one of the world’s top art destinations. The gala, co-chaired by Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfield, is the black-tie event where guests are known to turn out epic fashion looks that elevate the event to the next level. The evening’s festivities, designed by Todd Fiscus of Todd Events, will include a cocktail hour, seated dinner, and a live auction. The night will be capped off with an epic after-party where the spirit of Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel in New York and will be complete with martini carts and custom artworks will be recreated with a Dallas twist that will have guests talking about the night for years to come
