Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

How do I gain entry to homes on the live tour?
Upon arriving at a tour home, you have a few options to gain entry:

You may present a digital Eventbrite ticket on your phone. Your digital ticket can be accessed by following a link in the confirmation email you received, or by logging into your Eventbrite account through the app or website and navigating to Tickets. If you purchased more than one ticket, you will find all tickets in a single PDF attachment.
You may print your ticket from the Eventbrite website and present it to a volunteer.
Please Note: Once you present your ticket at the first home you visit, you will receive a wristband that will grant you admission into the other homes on the tour.

How do I find my tickets?
You can access your tickets via the Eventbrite app or website. On the iPhone version of the Eventbrite app, log in and tap Tickets. On the Android version of the app, log in and tap Profile. Then, find your order and tap Tickets. On the Eventbrite website, log in to your account and click Tickets. You can also find your tickets through the automated confirmation message. When you purchased your tickets, you were sent a confirmation message with a link to download your tickets. If you can't find this email, check your spam or junk folder.

For detailed instructions on finding your tickets, visit the Eventbrite website.

How many homes will be on this year's tour?
The live tour will feature five fabulously decorated homes throughout Greater Akron. Sponsors are also invited to the Patron Party at a sixth private residence after the live tour on Sunday, Dec. 8. The virtual tour will feature professionally filmed tours of eight exquisite homes.

How much do tickets cost and where can they be purchased?
General admission ticket sales begin Nov. 1, with live or virtual tour tickets available for $40 each (plus Eventbrite processing fees), or $70* for a package of both live and virtual tour tickets. As an added benefit, the full ticket price is tax deductible (minus the Eventbrite processing fee).

We also offer a Patron Party ticket bundle for $250 each (plus Eventbrite processing fees). This includes a single ticket to the live tour and the private Patron Party on Dec. 8, as well as a link to view the virtual tour Dec. 14 and Dec. 15.

*To receive the package discount, guests must purchase the live and virtual ticket package in a single transaction. Live and virtual tour tickets purchased separately do not qualify for the discounted rate. Tickets are not refundable but may be transferred to another guest.

What do proceeds from the Sugar Plum Tour support?
As the signature fundraiser of the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation, all proceeds from the Sugar Plum Tour remain in Greater Akron to benefit your community. Since 2005, GCEF has reinvested nearly $840,000 into programs that positively impact the local LGBTQ+ community and Greater Akron as a whole. By purchasing tickets to or becoming a sponsor of the Sugar Plum Tour, you are generously supporting grants and scholarships that advance the right of the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ community to live safely, openly and authentically. We couldn't do it without you!

Sponsorship FAQs

What do I need to know before attending the private Patron Party?
The Sugar Plum planning committee is excited to welcome sponsors to a private home for the 2024 Patron Party! Sponsors and Patron Party ticket holders will receive an email from Eventbrite by 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 with detailed instructions about this year's Patron Party. For the homeowners' privacy, we will not publish the Patron Party home's address before this time.

Doors for the party will open at 6 p.m. Security and police officers will be present to direct parking. The evening's dress code is cocktail attire, but the hosts ask you not to wear spiked or stiletto heels or boots. Guests wearing spiked or stiletto heels will be asked to check their shoes and provided with slipper socks. A coat and shoe check will be available at the home's entrance.

How can I or my company sponsor the Sugar Plum Tour?
Becoming a sponsor is an excellent opportunity for businesses and individuals to show their support for inclusion and diversity in our community. Corporate and individual sponsorships range from $500+ to $15,000+. Sponsors receive tickets to both the live and virtual tours, as well as the private Patron Party, which will be held after the live tour on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. Sponsors at the $2,500 level and above are also invited to a special brunch and preview tour with this year’s homeowners. You can view a full menu of tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities on our website, or learn more by contacting Malia Rivera-Speer at mrivera@akroncf.org or 330-436-5649.

Please note: We gladly accept gifts from donor-advised funds and IRAs. However, per IRS regulations, sponsorships from donor-advised funds and IRAs cannot receive any benefits, including but not limited to event tickets, gifts, food, beverages and other items of value. If you plan to support the Sugar Plum Tour with a gift from your donor-advised fund or IRA, please contact Deb Hoffman at dhoffman@akroncf.org or 330-436-5614.

Live Tour FAQs

I purchased a ticket but can no longer attend the tour. What should I do?
Tickets are nonrefundable but may be transferred. You are welcome to give your ticket to a friend or family member who will enjoy the tour. Please email Malia Rivera-Speer at mrivera@akroncf.org to make a change to your reservation.

Where do I find the home locations?
A mobile-friendly online tour guide and map will be emailed to you on the morning of the tour for your convenience. There will also be a limited amount of printed tour guides available at each home on the tour.

How do I access the online tour guide?
You will receive an email from Eventbrite by 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, with a link to the online tour guide and home locations. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder or email mrivera@akroncf.org for assistance.

When can I begin touring the homes?
Guests may tour the homes in any order from 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Out of respect for the homeowners, please do not arrive before 12 p.m. or after 5 p.m.

Can I take photos of the homes?
Yes, guests are encouraged to take photos of their tour experience and share it on social media, tagging @GayCommunityEndowmentFund on Facebook and Instagram. Photos are for personal use only and may not be used for commercial purposes. Please be respectful of the homeowners and stay within the indicated tour path. Some areas of the homes may be closed off for privacy.

Virtual Tour FAQs

How do I access the virtual tour?
You will receive an email from Eventbrite by 9 a.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 14, with a link to view the tour. If you do not receive the email by 10 a.m., please check your spam folder or email mrivera@akroncf.org for assistance. The email will be sent to the email address you used to purchase your tickets. If you purchased gift tickets, your recipients will also receive the link to view the tour at the email addresses you provided at the time of registration. Tickets purchased on Saturday, Dec. 14, or Sunday, Dec. 15, will include a link to view the tour within the confirmation email.

Once I receive the email, how do I view the tour videos?
Please click the link in the email to view the web page with the tour videos. The videos will all be available on a single web page, allowing you to view the tour at your leisure in any order you choose. The videos can be watched on your phone, tablet, laptop or home computer. You can also connect your computer to your TV to enjoy a big-screen tour experience.

How long do I have to view the tour?
The tour videos will be available until 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. During that time, you may enjoy the videos as many times as you would like. You can also choose to start the tour on Saturday and then come back to finish it on Sunday. Make it a weekend to remember!

What if I don’t view the tour while the videos are available?
The tour videos will only be available the weekend of Dec. 14 and 15, 2024. After that time, they will expire and will no longer be available for viewing. Refunds cannot be issued if you are unable to view the tour.

What if I have technology issues?
We strongly encourage you to test your internet connection prior to the tour. Unfortunately, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is not able to troubleshoot our guests’ technology issues. We recommend contacting your internet provider for assistance.

Can I share or record the tour videos?
The virtual tour videos are for personal use only and may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of Akron Community Foundation. Guests are not permitted to record, screenshot or share any content from the tour. For more information, please call 330-376-8522.

Questions?