Be a Visionary: Announcing the 2025 Downtown Arlington Annual Meeting

We’re thrilled to announce the 2025 Downtown Arlington Annual Meeting, presented by Texas Trust, taking place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the UTA Bluebonnet Ballroom (300 W 1st St, Arlington, TX 76010).This is Downtown Arlington’s signature fundraiser for our arts and culture programming. This year, we’re asking you to do more than attend. We invite you to "Be a Visionary" by looking ahead with courage, contributing with heart and playing a role in shaping Downtown Arlington’s next decade.

With the recent renewal of the Downtown Arlington Business Improvement District (BID), our community stands at the start of a new chapter. We are looking forward to planning our legacy and building on the vision for the next 10 years. This year’s Annual Meeting will inspire you to hope boldly and act intentionally to help create the future you want to see in Downtown Arlington. 

Early Bird Sale Extended 

For the first time ever, we’re offering early bird pricing on tables, and we’ve extended the sale! Take $100 off the listed price now through Friday, August 8! Proceeds directly benefit Downtown Arlington’s year-round arts and events programming, which brings culture, creativity and community to our streets, centers and performance spaces. 

Learn More & reserve a table

This Year’s Theme: Be a Visionary 

This isn’t just a luncheon. It’s a chance to join community leaders, city officials, entrepreneurs, developers, artists and residents as we shape what’s next — together. Our 2025 theme, “Be a Visionary,” is a call to everyone in the Arlington Cultural District to dream big, plan boldly, and take action to shape the future of Downtown Arlington. 

The program will feature powerful speakers offering insights you won’t hear anywhere else: 

Trey Yelverton, Arlington City Manager, will cast a compelling vision for the city’s future and spotlight major projects that will drive the next era of Downtown development. 

Doug Kozma of SmithGroup will present an insider preview of the UTA Campus Master Plan, offering a rare look at how our university partner plans to evolve over the next 25 years and how Downtown Arlington will grow with it. 

Molly Alexander, a national subject matter expert in downtown revitalization, will teach us how communities can measure success through Return on Emotion, ROE© — spotlighting the human impact that makes a downtown truly great. Molly draws from deep experience in Downtown Austin, owning two award-winning retail establishments in downtown Elgin, Tex., and her work nationally. 

At the conclusion of the program, we’ll recognize individuals and organizations whose work exemplifies visionary leadership and community impact: 

The Dream Builder Award, presented by Texas Trust 
Recognizes an individual or organization whose investments have significantly advanced the revitalization of Downtown. 2024 winner: Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch of the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation 

The Legendary Lionheart 
Honors a small business that exemplifies generosity, resilience, and unwavering community spirit. 2024 winner: Tami Wadlington of Division Brewing 

The Golden Lantern 
Celebrates a nonprofit or leader whose work lights the way — bringing hope, humanity, and connection to our district. 2024 winner: Elle Stubbs of Arlington Holiday Lights Parade 

Individual tickets will be available in september. In the meantime, we encourage you to take advantage of early bird pricing and lock in your table before August 8. 

Event Details: 
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
UTA Bluebonnet Ballroom | 300 W 1st St, Arlington, TX 76010 

Whether you're a business owner, artist, nonprofit leader or passionate resident, you belong in this conversation. Join us in charting the course for the next decade of Downtown Arlington — a place rooted in creativity, connection and community pride.

Let’s be bold. Let’s be hopeful. Let’s Be Visionaries. See you at the Annual Meeting!