Inside a massive, historic hangar where World War II mechanics once retrofitted Army bombers for naval warfare, the sounds of Big Band jazz and swing dancing will echo to honor America’s 250th anniversarry.
The West Valley Arts Council and the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center have partnered to host "A Night to Remember" on Nov. 14. The immersive, 1940s-style gala is officially recognized as an America 250 event, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States by spotlighting the West Valley’s critical contributions to the nation's wartime "arsenal of democracy."
The venue for the event, now an adaptive-reuse business hub known as Flite Goodyear, holds a lineage in American industrial history. Built shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the desert hangar was operated by the Goodyear Aircraft Company. There, workers executed massive structural overhauls on B-24 Liberator bombers, transforming them into PB4Y-2 Privateer patrol planes destined for critical reconnaissance missions in the Pacific.
"The past becomes much more real when we can experience it through the culture of the time," said Lisa Hegarty, executive director of the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center. "The event will feature a live swing band, dancing, and other acts that evoke the era and help make our local history feel more immediate."
Organizers are designing the evening as a cocktail-style immersive experience, blending regional history with a glamorous 1940s night club and USO-era swing hall atmosphere. Attendees, who are encouraged to wear period attire, will enter through a "Victory Lane" welcome before gathering at the "Red, White and Blue" main stage.
The hangar will be divided into experience zones featuring 1940s classic and military vehicles, live art creation by local artists, and historical displays. Food stations will serve thematic cuisines from Allied nations, including American, British, French and Polynesian dishes.
A central feature of the evening will be a digital "Wall of Heroes." Organizers are actively calling on West Valley residents to submit names and photographs of family members who served in World War II to be honored on a massive video wall during the gala.
Beyond celebrating national and local history, the event serves as a joint fundraiser to boost the cultural infrastructure of the rapidly growing West Valley. Proceeds will be split equally between the two organizing non-profits. For the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center, the funds will support operations, oral history collections, and family programming as the museum prepares to relocate to a larger facility.
The West Valley Arts Council, which was originally founded in 1969 in Litchfield Park, views the high-profile collaboration as a way to redefine the region's cultural footprint.
"We want to make the West Valley a place where people think of art and culture, and not automatically assume that you have to drive east to get high-quality entertainment and experiences," said Kathy Knecht, executive director of the West Valley Arts Council. "Arts and culture bring people together, attract a workforce, and create an economic vibe that people want to be in."
The history of the Flite Goodyear site spans beyond the war. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company first established a presence in the Arizona desert in 1916 to cultivate long-staple cotton, a vital material used to reinforce rubber tires. During World War II, the site also manufactured more than 150 coastal defense blimps, mostly assembled by women. During the Cold War, the facility became a highly secured, classified defense installation dedicated to advanced radar research before operations wound down in the 2010s.
"This is still an industrial site, but it’s also part of Arizona history," said Darryl Burton, development manager for Flite Goodyear, reflecting on the building's transition from defense hub to a community space hosting small businesses. "The goal is to let people see what happened here, while making it useful for the next generation."
Single tickets for "A Night to Remember" start at $200, including food station dining and two drink tickets. Organizers are currently seeking corporate sponsorships and event volunteers.
Additional details, volunteer sign-ups, and ticket information can be found at nighttoremember.org.
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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