Arizona Experience Raffle 2026

Experience Arizona. Protect the Verde. The Arizona Experience Raffle is your chance to win an unforgettable Verde Valley adventure while supporting the protection and restoration of one of Arizona’s most treasured natural resources—the Verde River. Early Bird Tickets: 10 for $100 (per package) , July 1-7 only Regular Tickets: $25 each or 5 for $100 (per package) , July 8 to August 31 Sales End: August 31 at 11:59 PM Winners Announced: September 8, 2026 Eligibility: Arizona residents, 21 and older From July 1 through August 31, every raffle ticket purchased helps Friends of the Verde River continue its work restoring habitat, sustaining river flows, and connecting people to the river that supports wildlife, communities, and quality of life throughout the watershed. Choose your chance to win one of two incredible Arizona experience packages that showcase the beauty, adventure, and unique character of the Verde Valley. Tickets for each package are sold separately. Purchase Tickets Early Bird Ticket Special July 1–7 only 10 tickets for $100 July 8 to August 31 $25 per ticket 5 tickets for $100 Raffle sales end August 31, 2026. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Grand Prize #1: Rails, Trails & Local Tales Package Experience the Verde Valley from a whole new perspective. This package combines one of Arizona’s most scenic excursions with a memorable dining experience at one of the Verde Valley’s favorite restaurant groups. Thank you to the Verde Canyon Railroad and The Haunted Group for donating the experiences valued at $403. Package Includes Verde Canyon Railroad Excursion – $278 value Travel through a spectacular wilderness corridor aboard the historic Verde Canyon Railroad. This four-hour scenic journey follows the Verde River through towering red-rock cliffs, remote canyon landscapes, and rich wildlife habitat inaccessible by road. Keep an eye out for bald eagles, great blue herons, otters, dramatic rock formations, and breathtaking views of one of Arizona’s most beautiful river canyons. Two tickets are included. Dinner and Cocktails at the Haunted Group – $125 value Enjoy a meal and a couple of cold drinks at your choice of participating Haunted Group restaurants in Jerome or Cottonwood, featuring some of the Verde Valley’s most popular dining destinations. This thoughtfully curated experience combines breathtaking canyon views with exceptional local dining for a true taste of the Verde Valley. Grand Prize #2: Verde Adventure Escape Package Adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable scenery come together in this one-of-a-kind Verde Valley getaway. Thank you to Eamonn O’Callaghan, Friends of the Verde River Board Member and Sedona Adventure Tours for donating the stay and experience, valued at $538. Package Includes Two-Night Rimrock Getaway – $250 value Enjoy a two-night stay in a charming A-frame cabin nestled near the Coconino National Forest. Surrounded by mountain views and endless opportunities for exploration, this cozy retreat is the perfect basecamp for hiking, sightseeing, stargazing, and your kayaking trip on the Verde River! Water to Wine Kayaking Tour – $288 value Experience one of the Verde Valley’s most popular outdoor adventures. Paddle a beginner-friendly stretch of the Verde River before arriving at Alcantara Vineyards, where your experience continues with a $20 food, wine, or tasting credit. This unique river-to-vineyard adventure for two combines outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, and local flavor into one unforgettable day. Why Your Support Matters When you purchase a raffle ticket, you’re doing more than entering for a chance to win. Your support helps Friends of the Verde River: Restore native habitat and improve conditions for wildlife Sustain healthy river flows through science-based conservation efforts Engage the community through education, stewardship, and citizen science programs Together, we are working toward a healthy, flowing Verde River system that supports vibrant communities, thriving ecosystems, and future generations. Purchase Tickets Thank You to Our Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors, Eamonn O’Callaghan, Friends of the Verde River Board Member, the Haunted Group, Sedona Adventure Tours, and the Verde Canyon Railroad. Get Your Tickets Today Whether you’re dreaming of a scenic railroad adventure, a relaxing getaway, or a day on the river, every ticket supports a healthier future for the Verde River. Purchase your tickets between July 1 and August 31, 2026, for your chance to win. Purchase Tickets Thank you for helping protect and sustain the Verde River. ARIZONA EXPERIENCE RAFFLE OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS The Arizona Experience Raffle benefits the programs and conservation efforts of Friends of the Verde River. ELIGIBILITY Entry purchases must be made within the State of Arizona, and purchasers must be Arizona residents who are 21 years of age or older at the time of purchase. Tickets will be sold online only through Friends of the Verde River. By purchasing a raffle ticket, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and Regulations and all applicable federal, state, and local laws. TICKET SALES AND PRICING The Arizona Experience Raffle features two separate prize packages. Tickets for each package are sold separately, and entrants may purchase tickets for one package or both packages. Purchasing tickets for one package does not provide entry into the drawing for the other package. A participant may win both prize packages if they hold the winning ticket(s) for each separate drawing. Ticket sales begin on July 1, 2026, and end on August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Arizona time. Ticket pricing is as follows for each package: Early Bird Special (July 1–7, 2026 only) • 10 tickets for $100 Regular Pricing (July 8–August 31, 2026) • 1 ticket for $25 • 5 tickets for $100 All ticket sales are final and non-refundable. DRAWING AND WINNER SELECTION Each raffle package will have its own separate drawing. All tickets purchased will be associated with the purchaser’s name. After ticket sales close, entries for each package will be exported into a spreadsheet showing each purchaser’s name the number of times equal to the number of tickets purchased for that package. Each entry will then be assigned a unique number. Friends of the Verde River will utilize a random number generator to select one winning entry for each package. The selected number will be matched to the corresponding entry and purchaser. The drawings will be conducted after ticket sales close on August 31, 2026. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The decisions of Friends of the Verde River regarding the drawing and winner selection are final. PRIZES Grand Prize #1: Rails, Trails & Local Tales Package Approximate Value: $403 Package Includes: • Two Tickets to the Verde Canyon Railroad Excursion (Approximate Value: $278) Travel through a spectacular wilderness corridor aboard the historic Verde Canyon Railroad. This four-hour scenic journey follows the Verde River through towering red-rock cliffs, remote canyon landscapes, and rich wildlife habitat inaccessible by road. • Haunted Group Restaurant Gift Certificate (Approximate Value: $125) Enjoy drinks at participating Haunted Group restaurants in Jerome or Cottonwood. Prize Restrictions: Verde Canyon Railroad Excursion: • Two Tickets Expire August 31, 2027 • Not valid during March, April, September, or October • Not valid for special event trains • Subject to reservation availability and railroad policies The Haunted Group Gift Certificate: • Valid at participating Haunted Group restaurants, excluding Grapes Restaurant • Expires August 31, 2027 • Subject to restaurant policies and availability Grand Prize #2: Verde Adventure Escape Package Approximate Value: $538 Package Includes: • Two-Night Rimrock Cabin Getaway (Approximate Value: $250) Enjoy a two-night stay in a charming A-frame cabin near the Coconino National Forest. Surrounded by mountain views and endless opportunities for exploration, this cozy retreat is the perfect basecamp for hiking, sightseeing, stargazing, and enjoying your Verde River adventure. • Two Tickets to the Water to Wine Kayaking Tour Experience (Approximate Value: $288) Experience one of the Verde Valley’s most popular outdoor adventures. Paddle a beginner-friendly stretch of the Verde River before arriving at Alcantara Vineyards, where your experience continues with a $20 credit for food, wine, tastings, or gifts. Prize Restrictions: Two-Night Rimrock Cabin Stay: • Approximate value based on a two-night stay • No blackout dates except when the property is already reserved • Reservations subject to availability Water to Wine Kayaking Tour: • Two tickets subject to availability and reservation requirements • Includes a $20 credit per participant for food, wine tasting, wine purchases, or gifts at Alcantara Vineyards • Participants must be 21 years of age or older to participate in wine tastings • No outside food is permitted in the wine tasting area • The experience is provided through Sedona Adventure Tours in partnership with Alcantara Vineyards • Additional terms and conditions of Sedona Adventure Tours and Alcantara Vineyards may apply PRIZE CLAIMS Prizes cannot be exchanged, transferred, substituted, or redeemed for cash. Winners will be notified by Friends of the Verde River via phone and email using the contact information provided at the time of purchase. Prize items may be picked up at the Friends of the Verde River office or mailed to the winner. Friends of the Verde River 4855 E Broken Saddle Dr Cottonwood, AZ 86326 Friends of the Verde River will coordinate prize fulfillment directly with each winner using the contact information provided at the time of purchase. Any prize components requiring reservations, scheduling, or coordination with the donating business or service provider will be arranged directly with the winner. Winners must claim their prizes within sixty (60) days of notification. Any prize not claimed within 60 days of notification, or by November 7, 2026, whichever occurs first, will be deemed forfeited and will revert to Friends of the Verde River. ODDS OF WINNING The odds of winning depend on the total number of tickets sold for each individual prize package. TAXES AND IRS RULES All proceeds benefit Friends of the Verde River, a nonprofit organization operating under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and the laws of the State of Arizona. Winners are solely responsible for any applicable federal, state, and local taxes associated with receipt of a prize. The Internal Revenue Service has taken the position that amounts paid for chances to participate in raffles, lotteries, or similar drawings are not charitable donations and are therefore not tax deductible as charitable contributions. This information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Participants should consult their tax advisor regarding their specific circumstances. GENERAL CONDITIONS Friends of the Verde River reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the raffle if circumstances beyond its control compromise the administration, security, fairness, or proper operation of the raffle. By participating, entrants release and hold harmless Friends of the Verde River, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and affiliates from any liability arising from participation in the raffle or acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize. Void where prohibited by law.