There’s no rule mandating all parties come to a screeching halt on Jan. 1.

Not at all. Some just keep the fun rolling into the new year. 

A red-carpet event with a champagne reception will prove that point in early 2025. Celebrity Chefs, the charity event for Mid-Cities Supporters of SafeHaven benefitting SafeHaven of Tarrant County, is planned for 5:30 p.m., Jan. 11 at the Hurst Conference Center.

Making the soiree a festive night out is not only the goal but is a sure promise from event organizers.

“We want you to walk in that door and walk on that red carpet, and we want you to feel special,” event chair Sharon Herron says. “From the time you walk through the foyer until those ballroom doors open, it’s like you’re going to 16 different restaurants.”

Celebrity Chefs, Mid-Cities’ fundraiser for 18 years, is an opportunity to taste the signature dishes of 16 North Texas chefs. Not only does this event extend the party season, but it also breaks diet trends that start in the new year. 

There’s lots and lots of food at this one.

And unlike many fundraisers where the night is spent sitting at a table with all eyes staring at a podium, this is a cocktail party in a ballroom. It will be a party in constant motion, Herron says.

Starting in the foyer with champagne and hors d’oeuvres and progressing into the main space for light bites, guests can move from station to station, tasting signature creations from area restaurants. All food will be paired with fine wines.

One auction item for those who want to continue to party is the chefs’ dinner packages — served at your house or their restaurants. A Foodie Wall offers the chance to win restaurant gift cards, fine wine and kitchen gadgets. Silent auctions, a big board and a raffle are part of the evening, too.

SafeHaven of Tarrant County works with families escaping abuse, offering services that include domestic violence shelter, transitional housing, counseling and legal aid. Proceeds from the Celebrity Chefs’ event benefit SafeHaven’s programs for women and children, Herron says.

Herron knows abused women need a safe place to live. Her father abused her as a child, and that pattern continued when she married her high school boyfriend.

After nearly losing her life, Herron escaped with her child and has been married to another man for more than 30 years. Now, she finds herself chairing the Celebrity Chefs event for the fifth time.

“My passion comes from being abused for 20 years,” she says. “I believe in my heart of hearts this is what I’m supposed to be doing, to save women and children from being abused as I was. We have to give them a chance.”

Tickets for Celebrity Chefs are on sale at $250 for individual tickets and $2,000 for a table of 10. The annual event has been a sell-out with a waiting list for years, and expectations are that tradition will continue.

“It’s a must-attend event,” Herron says. “It’s a win-win. We keep you busy up until the very end. It’s exciting, and it’s fun. I want people who attend this event to give back to the women and children and their future.”