Bentonville’s Fresh Start Gala Celebrates 40 Years of NWA Women’s Shelter
You step into the room, and vintage glamour takes over. Chips click against felt, glasses clink nearby, and for one night, Bentonville leans into the era.
THE DEETS
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
🕑 5:00 PM to midnight
📍 The Compton Bentonville, 200 E Central Ave, Bentonville, AR
🎟️ General admission $100 per person | VIP admission $200 per person | After-party only tickets $25 per person
🔗 More info | Tickets
What Your Ticket Covers
General admission puts $500 in gaming chips in your hand, plus heavy hors d’oeuvres and complimentary wine and beer. Step up to VIP and you’re working with $1,000 in chips, the same food and drink, a swag bag, and entry an hour early at 5 pm. If the tables aren’t your scene, a $25 after-party ticket gets you through the doors at 9 pm with wine and beer included. General and VIP tickets both carry you straight into the after-party, no extra ticket needed.
Deal Me In
Your chips get you a seat at poker, blackjack, roulette, or craps, with a silent auction running alongside the tables for anyone looking to bid between hands.
After Hours Gets an Invite
Your night doesn’t end when the tables close. Gaming stays open until midnight this year, and at 9 pm you can catch Haus of Untz DJ Collective taking over for a livelier back half of the night.
Marking 40 Years
This is the 17th Annual Fresh Start, and you’ll find it at The Compton, a new hotel in downtown Bentonville. Three Walmart merchandising leaders are co-chairing this year’s event, Angela Mayo, Chad Stewart, and JD Hudman, whose day jobs span candy, spirits, and fuel and convenience. Your ticket goes toward the shelter’s programs and services for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking across Northwest Arkansas.
Grab a table of friends for a night worth showing up for. Reserve your seat at the tables, and know your chips help fund what NWAWS offers survivors long after the night winds down.
