Holidaze brought some cheer to the end of a difficult 2020 when the pop-up bar was able to safely open in Walton Arts Center’s indoor and outdoor spaces. Now, that cheer is continuing into 2021 in a tangible way with charitable donations made to local nonprofits from the bar’s proceeds.
The Stony Bird was the signature cocktail for Holidaze, and a Secret Santa donated $10 for each one purchased. Patrons purchased 928 cocktails resulting in $9,280 raised. Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance, Northwest Arkansas Equality, Peace at Home Family Shelter and Roots Festival’s Meals for Musicians will each receive $2,320. Each of these nonprofits does important work for our community.
Two of these nonprofits, Fayetteville Independent Restaurant Alliance (FIRA) and Meals for Musicians benefit employees in industries hard-hit by the pandemic. FIRA provides resources for local hospitality professionals with a focus on livable wages, healthier lifestyles and access to benefits that are not often prioritized in the industry. Roots Meals for Musicians provides meal care packages for members of the music community to help them bridge the gap during these uncertain times.
The two other nonprofits benefitting from Holidaze proceeds, NWA Equality and Peace at Home Family Shelter, focus on creating safe, inclusive spaces in our community. NWA Equality provides programming, education and advocacy to serve, connect and empower the LGBTQ+ community in Northwest Arkansas. Peace at Home Family Shelter provides shelter, services and support to women, men, and children fleeing domestic violence in Northwest Arkansas.
In addition to funds raised from Stony Bird sales, FIRA also hosted its annual “Nog Off” eggnog competition. Participants included bartenders and mixologists from nine local restaurants, bars and breweries. Amber Hurlbut from Infusion took home the trophy, and the event raised an additional $800 for the FIRA which will be used in their efforts to provide relief to hospitality professionals
As the host location for Holidaze, Walton Arts Center’s Ghost Light Recovery Fund will receive $30,000. The Ghost Light Recovery Fund helps Walton Arts Center offset lost revenue from canceled performances, continue education and public programming, maintain facilities and support staff until full-scale performances can resume.
More than 9,400 patrons attended Holidaze during its 40-day run. Holidaze and Walton Arts Center were able to employ 22 hospitality workers and 30 event staff, and throughout the run seven artists or groups were hired to provide entertainment for patrons. Workers in these industries have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this seasonal employment provided some relief for the workers and artists.
We are proud to have partnered with Holidaze for the 2020 iteration of the festive Fayetteville favorite, and even prouder of the good it will do in our community.