Club events
13 February | Rotary Club of Maryville, Tennessee
Rotary Night on the Red Carpet
The evening includes music and dancing, as well as silent and live auctions. For 30 years, the club has hosted a fundraiser, using the proceeds to fight food insecurity, provide assistance for returning college students, join with Habitat families to build homes, and deliver dictionaries to every third-grader in the county.
13 February | Rotary Club of Fredericksburg, Texas
Cupid's Bow Bash
This year's Cupid's Bow Bash is the club's 12th annual Valentine's Day party. It features a multicourse catered dinner and live music performed by Bob Appel, a traditional country singer based in Austin, and his band. There is also a door prize and a silent auction. Organizers expect more than 200 people to attend, with proceeds supporting local and international projects and scholarships.
14 February | Rotary Club of Dahlonega Sunrise, Georgia
Wimpy Mile
The course for this annual mile-long race in the Blue Ridge foothills runs mostly downhill along Wimpy Mill Road, with a steady 178-foot drop in elevation between the start in downtown Dahlonega and the finish line at a riverside picnic area. Participants of all abilities are welcome. Serious runners can try for a personal record, while others can go at their own easy pace. Music, snack booths, and an awards ceremony await finishers. The event benefits local nonprofits and scholarships.
Tell us about your club’s upcoming event: Write to magazine@rotary.org and put “calendar” in the subject line. To be considered for inclusion in Rotary magazine’s print edition, submissions must be received at least five months before the event.
14 February | Rotary Club of Duncan, British Columbia
Heart of Gold Gala
This gala event at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre is the culmination of a nearly monthlong online auction set to launch 19 January. Bidders can expect a bounty of auction items; last year’s included framed artworks, tickets to a country music festival, a year’s supply of eggs from a local farm, and more. The evening celebration includes entertainment and a traditional silent auction, with proceeds benefiting local projects.
19 February | Rotary clubs of Southport and Southport Evening, North Carolina
Chefs of Brunswick
More than a dozen restaurants and other vendors in Brunswick County offer samples of their finest food and drinks at this annual social event, first held in 2023. A raffle offers attendees the chance to win up to $500 in gift cards to some of the participating restaurants. Organizers expect 600 people to fill the venue. Event proceeds benefit local nonprofits and projects.
21 February | Rotary Club of Signal Hill, California
Mutt Run
At this dog-friendly race, humans can run or walk alongside their four-legged friends on a course that follows the scenic Long Beach shoreline. All finishers receive a medal and a T-shirt. Past the finish line, Long Beach Animal Care Services, a municipal shelter that cares for about 4,000 animals each year, puts on an adorable showcase of adoptable pups. Proceeds from the event benefit the animal shelter and local projects.
28 February | Rotary Club of Independence, Missouri
Mardi Gras
The club gets into the carnival spirit with this festive New Orleans-style celebration, featuring a zydeco band and Louisiana cuisine such as jambalaya, catfish, gumbo, and king cake. A second line parade into the banquet hall gets the party started, while games and live and silent auctions add to the merriment. This year’s beneficiary, Blue Valley Activity Center, is a local organization that offers recreational sports programs for children.
28 February | Rotary Club of Des Moines AM Foundation, Iowa
Bingo Bash
Now in its fifth year, this family-friendly event runs four sessions between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and has grown to over 1,000 attendees annually. Each year, the club votes on three nonprofits to benefit, one in each of the following areas: food insecurity, human trafficking, and mental health. The event was created to build the club’s foundation to $1 million, so more funds can be donated annually to those in need.
1 March | Rotary Club of North Pocono, Pennsylvania
Mini Golf Classic
In its fifth year, this indoor golf event at the North Pocono Public Library features an 18-hole putting course that Interactors set up amid the stacks. On the last hole, golfers have the chance to win a $500 grand prize by hitting a hole-in-one, with mulligans allowed. At the end of the course, all participants are treated with popcorn, ice cream, and a free book. All proceeds benefit the library.
7 March | Rotary Club of Naples North, Florida
Naples Craft Beer Fest
At this annual festival, about 15 restaurants and 30 breweries team up to offer paired samples of food and beer. Pairings are judged by culinary experts to determine the Grand Champion, while attendees vote for their favorites in a People’s Choice contest. Last year’s winning combos included mango-habanero chicken wings with a hazy IPA, a smashburger with a light lager, and short rib ragu with an amber ale. Festivalgoers enjoy live music while they chow down. Funds raised at the event support local projects and nonprofits.
7 March | Rotary Club of Valle Verde-Green Valley, Arizona
Jazz in the Desert
For the 17th year, the club will showcase middle school and high school jazz ensembles at matinee and evening shows. Over the years, Jazz in the Desert events have raised more than $400,000, with proceeds benefiting the various schools’ music programs, as well as local, national, and international Rotary projects.
13 March | Rotary clubs of Chicoutimi and Rive Nord Du Saguenay, Quebec
La Saint-Patrick du Saguenay
More than 400 people are expected to attend this St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Saguenay’s Chicoutimi district that has become an annual tradition for the two clubs and raises funds to support local projects. The festivities take place in the old harbor building along the Saguenay River. A poutine bar showcases the celebrated Quebecois dish of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy, while some half-dozen regional breweries pour craft beers.
14 March | Rotary Club of Riverside Sunrise, California
Black Tie Bingo
For more than two decades, the club has organized an annual formal-dress bingo event to raise funds in support of projects for the community. This year, guests are invited to wear a “sparkle of green” in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and play “jukebox bingo,” in which bingo numbers are replaced by popular songs. The evening includes dinner, live music, and a silent auction.
21-22 March | Rotary Club of St. Albans, Vermont
Home & Recreation Expo
More than 5,000 people each year flock to this two-day expo in which local companies exhibit their goods and services. Visitors can peruse the booths of landscapers, builders, real estate agents, and other vendors and try samples of food from businesses including Franklin County maple producers. First held in 1992, the event has raised more than $1 million over the years to support local projects and nonprofits.
28 March | Rotary Club of Round Rock, Texas
The BBQ Thing
The historic grounds of the Old Settlers Association of Williamson County are the site of the club’s third annual finger-licking feast. The ticket price covers a barbecue dinner, dessert, and two drinks; there will also be a cash bar. Live music and games make for a Saturday evening of good old-fashioned fun and camaraderie. Event proceeds support local nonprofits.
28 March | Rotary Club of East Los Angeles
Centennial Casino Night Gala Celebration
This year’s gala offers an exciting evening of games, entertainment, and community as the club celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since its founding, the club’s members have been dedicated to supporting local students, having awarded 128 scholarships totaling $110,000. In honor of the milestone, they aim to raise $15,000 to continue their legacy of service and scholarship in the community.