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Christmas Idea House charity event returns to Queen Creek

Posted 11/17/21

After being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the women of Desert Club have been preparing for this year’s 63rd annual Christmas Idea House.

The house chosen for the site of this home …

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Entertainment

Christmas Idea House charity event returns to Queen Creek

Posted

After being cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, the women of Desert Club have been preparing for this year’s 63rd annual Christmas Idea House.

The house chosen for the site of this home tour and holiday shopping event is in Pegasus Airpark.

On display will be a luxuriously appointed home transformed into a holiday wonderland, where visitors will discover thousands of holiday gifts and décor artfully displayed and for sale. All proceeds from this event benefit local charities and provide need-based scholarships to students.

The Christmas Idea House, which brings thousands of visitors each year, is the primary fundraiser for Desert Club, an all-volunteer women’s organization. The event is held at a different luxury home each year in locations throughout the East Valley.

The homeowners temporarily “move out” and Desert Club members decorate the home from top to bottom with holiday décor, gifts and gourmet goodies. To date, Desert Club has given back more than $2.9 million.

The theme for this year’s Christmas Idea House is “Making Spirits Bright.”

“After a year of being home and adjusting to the world as it changed due to the pandemic, we wanted to remind people of the brightness and love the holidays can bring as people come together once again,” stated Idea House Co-chair Nicole Allison in a press release.

Since many students and organizations depend on the funds they receive from the Christmas Idea House community grant and scholarship programs, making the decision to not hold the event in 2020 was a difficult one.

“For the patrons who faithfully attend each year, to the students who need financial assistance to attend school, we look forward to bringing the community back together again for this festive and joyful experience, and to see the smiles of the families and students that we will help from the proceeds,” Allison stated.

The Christmas Idea House is open for three days, beginning on Thursday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. with the “Preview Gala,” which includes a gourmet selection of hors d'oeuvres followed by an exclusive home tour and shopping (reservations required; tickets are $80 per person). Friday, Dec. 3, guests may attend one of three seating times for the “Sneak Preview Brunch” (9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. or noon), where guests enjoy a lavish brunch, followed by the home tour and early-bird shopping (tickets are $60). For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.christmasideahouse.org.

The home is open for public tours and shopping on Friday, Dec. 3 from 4-8 p.m., and on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door or online.

Public parking for the event is at Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center in Queen Creek, 20464 E. Riggs Road. Shuttles will transport guests to and from the home, located in a private gated community.

This year, the Christmas Idea House is in a home in one of the Valley’s unique fly in/fly out communities, Pegasus Airpark of Queen Creek. For homeowners Bart and Dusti Powell, flying has become a family affair, with dad and two of their adult sons holding private pilot’s licenses, and their 17-year-old son currently in training.

Having attended the Christmas Idea House faithfully for the past 10 years, Dusti Powell recalls the many wonderful experiences she had attending the event as a holiday tradition.

“I love what these ladies do and thought that by ‘lending’ our home for this year’s event, it was another way that we could give back to the community,” she said. 

The Powell home was acquired as a half-completed custom home in 2016, and Powell, along with Pamela Cohen, principal at Ampersand Design studio, collaborated to see the design inspiration come to life. The goal was to create a vibrant atmosphere that also was comfortable and livable for the family.

Inside, visitors will see artfully curated wallpaper, stunning lighting fixtures and custom millwork throughout. Views of the San Tan mountains provide a backdrop to the resort-sized pool and covered entertaining spaces, including a full outdoor kitchen.