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    The gown lowdown

    Save the date for Dallas' 15 grandest galas and luncheons of spring 2024

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Feb 6, 2024 | 12:37 pm
    Dallas Mavs Ball

    Mavs Ball is a can't-miss spring gala.

    Photo courtesy of Dallas Mavericks

    Glittery galas, posh parties, and lavish luncheons pop up like wildflowers on the spring social calendar in Dallas. This season's bounty of fundraising events brings to town two acclaimed TV journalists with the last name Roberts - Robin and Deborah - who will headline two different benefits. Mad Hatter's goes Greek, House of DIFFA "untames" royalty, and the Rangers continue their World Series celebration with a home-run gala headlined by Brooks & Dunn.

    Beyond being fun, fabulous parties, these events raise critical funds for local nonprofits, from arts groups to health initiatives. Here are 15 dates to circle in your social diary this spring.

    Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon, February 8
    The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will mark the 40th anniversary of its beloved Saint Valentine’s Day Fashion Show & Luncheon at the Meyerson Symphony Center. The afternoon - chaired by Brooke Shelby and Samantha Wortley - will include a champagne reception, recognition of 2024 award recipients, and a runway show with fashions provided by Highland Park Village, all followed by a seated luncheon. The Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon and Fashion Show has raised more than $15 million in its 40 years. More information and tickets are here.

    Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball, February 10
    The DSOL will present 44 new debutantes in a spectacular night of pomp and pageantry at the Meyerson Symphony Center. The 38th ball, chaired by Kristin Cordiak with honorary chairs Margaret and Barry Hancock, is the culmination of nearly a year of parties, training, and philanthropy for the young women. The opulent evening will include a cocktail reception, presentation of debutantes, multicourse dinner, and dancing to Limelight. Funds raised support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Education and Community Outreach Programs.

    DSOL debutante ballThe DSOL Presentation Ball always includes a sweet father-daughter dance. Photo by Gittings

    Go Red for Women Luncheon, March 8
    Happening on International Woman's Day, the popular luncheon that supports American Heart Association's efforts toward women's cardiovascular health marks its 20th year in 2024. The event, which also includes a reception with health screenings and demonstrations, will take place at the Omni Dallas Hotel under the guidance of co-chairs Stacy Nahas and Susan Wetzel; tickets are available here. Then save the date for AHA's fancier Côtes du Coeur celebrity-chef wine dinner and auction, April 27 at the Omni. Expect the biggest event yet to celebrate AHA's 100th anniversary.

    Mavs Ball, March 22
    Dallas Mavericks fans won't want to miss the ninth annual Mavs Ball, featuring appearances from favorite players, CEO Cynt Marshall, and Governor Mark Cuban. The star-studded night at the Hilton Anatole includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment. The gala is the premier fundraising event for the Mavs Foundation and celebrates the year's grantees and charitable work of the Dallas Mavericks during this season. Information and tickets are available here.

    Junior League Milestones Luncheon featuring Robin Roberts, April 5
    Known for snagging high-profile celebrity speakers, this year's Junior League power lunch will be headlined by Robin Roberts, co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America. Kathleen Gibson will be honored as Sustainer of the Year at the event, taking place at Omni Dallas Hotel and co-chaired by Sally Pretorius Hodge and Linda Secrest. The luncheon benefits the Junior League of Dallas Community Service Fund, which supports the organization's many civic causes throughout greater Dallas. For more information, tables, and tickets, go here.

    Bruce Wood Dance Performance & Gala, April 6
    Bruce Wood Dance's 14th anniversary Performance & Gala will feature special guest artist and Broadway star NaTasha Yvette Williams on stage at the Moody Performance Hall. Nine Sinatra Songs by Twyla Tharp and Anything Goes by Bruce Wood will be performed under the guidance of artistic director Joy Bollinger, and the evening will recognize 2024 BRUCE Award honorees Dabney and Ric Abel. Ticket options range from the performance only to a full VIP experience that includes cocktail reception, performance, live auction, dinner, and dancing.

    Genesis Annual Luncheon featuring Sheryl Lee Ralph, April 12
    The 31st annual edition of this cherished Dallas luncheon will feature acclaimed actress Sheryl Lee Ralph as its keynote speakers. It will take place, per usual, at the Hilton Anatole. The luncheon raises funds for the organization's mission to provide safety, shelter, and support for women who have experienced domestic violence. Tickets and more information are here.

    Art Ball, April 13
    Considered the most glittering gala of spring, this beautiful black-tie ball at the Dallas Museum of Art is now in its 62nd year. Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld will chair the ball, which supports the museum's mission to offer free admission, present diverse exhibitions, and care for a collection of 25,000 objects. Tickets will be coveted and limited. (Can’t snag a ticket? Try for a seat at the DMA’s annual Art in Bloom Luncheon on March 4.)

    Mad Hatter’s Luncheon, April 18
    Call it “the big fat Greek” event of the season. The 36th Mad Hatter’s Luncheon is themed “Gardens of Greece” and chaired by Allison Brodnax, with Barbara Bigham as honorary chair and Karen Sargent serving as president of the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum. The afternoon will include a champagne reception, luncheon, hat contest, and fashion show presented by NorthPark. Funds raised benefit A Woman’s Garden. Information and tickets here.

    Mad Hatter's Tea 2021Time to start making those over-the-top hats for Mad Hatter's. Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Children’s Cancer Fund Gala, April 19
    Dallas Cowboys greats Troy Aikman and Dak Prescott once again will team up as honorary chairs for the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala, themed “A Knight to Remember,” at the Hilton Anatole Dallas. Besides being an epic evening that includes dinner, auctions, and a VIP reception, the black-tie ball always tugs at the heartstrings because the highlight is seeing pediatric cancer patients rocking the runway in a fashion show, alongside their idols and favorite superheroes. Author Emberli Pridham is the gala chair, and tickets and information are available here.

    TEX Gala, April 22
    Expect a sell-out crowd for the 2024 gala benefiting the World Series-champion Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, which improves the lives of children, the military, and first responders' families in the community. Attendees will experience a red-carpet arrival, cocktail hour and dinner on the playing surface of Globe Life Field, auctions featuring exclusive Rangers experiences and Hollywood memorabilia, and a live performance from country superstar duo Brooks & Dunn. There are always some surprise sports hero and celeb appearances, too; last year’s TEX Gala, headlined by Kenny Chesney, saw Matthew McConaughey drop by for a few words and raised a record $2 million. For information and tickets, visit the website.

    House of DIFFA: Royalty Untamed, April 27
    Happening at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel this year, spring's most colorful black-tie gala features a one-of-a-kind runway show and killer silent auction for a whopping 1,500 guests. The 2024 theme, "At House of DIFFA: Royalty Untamed," will celebrate "not just the grandeur of monarchs and icons, but every form of regality that touches our existence," they say, "from pop icons that dominate our playlists ... even the majestic king of the jungle." Tim Garippa and Jacob Samson co-chair the gala, which benefits organizations that help raise awareness, advocate for individuals, and fight HIV/AIDS in the Dallas community. More information and tickets are available here.

    House of DIFFAHouse of DIFFA is one of the most colorful events of spring. Photo by Jerry McClure

    Equest Blue Ribbon Gala, April 27
    Typically held outdoors during the summer, Equest's 43rd annual gala - themed "Hope Unbridled" - moves up on the calendar, to April 27, and indoors to the Hilton Anatole. Calvert Collins-Bratton and Melissa Oates serve as co-chairs, with Kristy and Patrick Sands as honorary chairs. The Texas-chic event will include cocktails, a seated dinner, auction, entertainment by The Manhattan Orchestra, and recognition of honorees Pamela Dealey Petty (Founder’s Award recipient) and Carolyn Anderson (Citation Award recipient). Equest provides equine-assisted learning, therapies, and counseling to children, adults, and veterans. More information and tickets are here.

    Texas Women's Foundation Awards Celebration featuring Deborah Roberts, April 30
    This day-long event at the Omni Dallas Hotel starts with #BESTSELF, a half-day empowerment program for teen girls. Then there are Leadership Forums featuring the 2024 Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader recipients. The evening concludes with the Awards Celebration and dinner, led by Deborah Roberts, senior national affairs correspondent, ABC News, and anchor of ABC's 20/20. Co-chairs are Sakina Rasheed Foster and Veronica Torres Hazley, and the event benefits Texas Women’s Foundation, which advances economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls. For more information and tickets, visit www.txwf.org

    CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards, May 16
    Save the date for the most delicious foodie event of the season (not that we're biased) and get ready to raise a glass to Dallas' restaurant and bar stars. The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is a spring tradition — and tickets will be on sale soon. Join us May 16 at Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.) for an evening honoring the very best of Dallas' culinary scene, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a nonprofit partner, Harvest Project Food Rescue. More details and ticket info will be revealed soon.

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    Expedition d’ Elegance

    Dallas Crystal Charity Ball 2025 takes elegant expedition to South of France

    Stephanie Allmon Merry
    Dec 9, 2025 | 4:58 pm
    Crystal Charity Ball 2025
    Photo by Ashley Gongora
    Crystal Charity Ball is Dallas' biggest formal fashion moment: Laura Pierson (in Lela Rose), Francis Harrison (in St. John) Julianne Santarosa (in Terry John), Bailey Harrison (in Sue Gragg), Sharon Lee Clark (in Ese Azenabor), and Caroline Harrison (in Sue Gragg).

    Attendees of the 2025 Crystal Charity Ball were promised an Expedition d’ Elegance, and indeed, Dallas’ grand dame gala delivered a night of globe-trotting glamour.

    Ball chair Mary Martha Pickens selected the jet-setting theme to reflect her love of world travel, but waited to reveal the final port of call until the doors opened.

    As always, Crystal Charity Ball's true “destinations” remain the local children’s nonprofits that will benefit from the millions of dollars raised by the organization.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025

    Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Laura Pierson (in Lela Rose), Francis Harrison (in St. John) Julianne Santarosa (in Terry John), Bailey Harrison (in Sue Gragg), Sharon Lee Clark (in Ese Azenabor), Caroline Harrison (in Sue Gragg)

    Doormen in white tie and top hats greeted 1,540 guests as they strolled into the Hilton Anatole on Saturday, December 6.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 The central foyer was transformed into a South-of-France villa, and harpists played on terraces.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Hanging wisteria and small fields of sunflowers colored the landscape of Pickens' final destination choice - the South of France, said to be her favorite place to travel. The hotel's central foyer had been transformed into a colorful seaside villa, complete with harpists from the Octavia Harp Ensemble serenading on terraces.

    Tres magnifique.

    After posing for professional portraits by James French Photography and showing off their 'fits for the NorthPark Fashion Cam, guests grabbed glasses of wine or hand-crafted cocktails and noshed on salumi boats, artisan cheese cones, and jumbo shrimp at the Corient /Thoele Family Cocktail Reception.

    New this year was the Aligned Data Centers Lounge, a martini-sports bar in the far corner of the foyer where guests hungry for heartier sustenance could snack on sliders and watch a football game on TV.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 The prettiest seaside "shrimp boat" you'll ever see.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Patrons could also try their luck in the casino, then redeem their winnings for home decor, children's toys, and gifts in the Boutique d’Elegance.

    The silent auction featured dozens upon dozens of magnificent trips, fine jewelry, artwork, runway fashion experiences, one-of-a-kind accessories, and many more exquisite items. Bidders checked their phones all night to see if they were still in the running. They could also buy Contribution Tickets for the chance to win a luxury car from Sewell or a Highland Park Village shopping spree.

    Fashion moment
    Crystal Charity Ball is not only the grandest gala of the year in Dallas, it's also the city's biggest formal fashion moment. Dallas' best-dressed women dazzled in their glamorous gowns.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 Ball chair Mary Martha Pickens in a vibrant green and blue Michael Faircloth gown (with Dr. John Pickens).Photo by Tamytha Cameron

    Shades of blue that matched the water and sky motifs of the evening were popular (as seen on Julianne Santarosa, Kim Hodge, and Leila Henderson-Gary). So were vibrant jewel tones (Anne Davidson, Monica Davy, Cary Deuber); holiday reds (Heather Wick, Haley Dearman, Veronica Moye, Laurie Sands Harrison); and various shades of white (Caroline Harrison, Sharon Lee Clark, Victoria Cullum, and Sabrina Harrison - whose sculptural gown seemed the embodiment of Pantone's 2026 color of the year, "Cloud Dancer").

    Beloved local designers were well-represented, including Nardos, Michael Faircloth, Patti Flowers, Ese Azenabor, and Venny Etienne.

    In a fun Dallas charity-fashion mashup, quite a few attendees wore gowns purchased at the Salvation Army Fashion Show & Luncheon: Candace Winslow donned a hand-painted Patti Flowers ballgown that was the grand finale look of 2025 event, and the 2025 chair Stacey Walker wore a Roland Nivelais number. 2026 chair Katherine Coker sparkled in a gold Monique Lhuillier dress, and longtime auxiliary member Maggie Kipp wore a black Carolina Herrera.

    (Scroll through the photo gallery, above, to see dozens of gorgeous looks from the evening.)

    Dancing, dinner, more dancing
    When doors opened to the massive Chantilly Ballroom for dinner at 9 pm, musicians from Dallas Live Orchestra, perched on pedestals, played electric violins while dancers from Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, clad in all white, twirled and leaped across the dance floor. Splendid rose-filled centerpieces, with hanging crystals and votive candles, filled each table.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 Dancers from Bruce Wood Dance Dallas and electric violin players from Dallas Live Orchestra entertained before dinner.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    Guests sat down to a decadent meal of Arcadian salad topped with a goat cheese crisp; filet with dauphinoise potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots; and a dainty “Flower Dream” mousse-cake on a pistachio shell for dessert.

    An orchestra composed of local musicians provided the dinner music, and once the last morsels had been eaten, the party revved up. The party band Simply Irresistible kicked things into high gear with their covers of hit pop and disco songs, and the dance floor filled quickly.

    Those who wanted to call it a night scooped up their party favors - an exquisite Nambe bowl courtesy of sponsor Amase Stays - and picked some hot coffee and freshly made doughnuts on the way to the valet stand. Surprise! There was another gift, a golf umbrella from PlainsCapital Bank, left inside the car at valet.

    Pulling the extravagant event together was a massive team that included producer Tom Addis of Tom Addis Productions, Inc.; Junior Villanueva of The Garden Gate for the florals; Lambert's, which donated all the greenery, trees, and flowers; Hilton Anatole executive banquet chef Matthew Martin, and hundreds more.

    Crystal Charity Ball 2025 The ball was attended by 1,540 guests.Photo by Ashley Gongora

    The point of it all
    The Crystal Charity Ball’s purpose is to aid, support, and make contributions to charitable organizations dedicated to the welfare of children located in Dallas County. The ball has distributed about $200 million since 1953.

    The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball will fund seven Dallas beneficiaries with an extraordinary collective commitment of $7,459,305: Café Momentum, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, Dallas CASA, Foundation for the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Retina Foundation of the Southwest, The Stewpot, and West Dallas Community School.

    The celebration ball is held annually to express appreciation to the organization's generous donors.

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