**This Press Release was written and sent by Dink & Dine Pickle Park.** 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dink & Dine Pickle Park celebrates first anniversary with free family party Oct. 9

Free pickleball, cornhole, a live game show and kids' contests, all open to the public at the Valley's premier destination for pickleball, lawn games and dining

MESA, Ariz. September 22, 2026 – Dink & Dine Pickle Park, the 72,000-square-foot indoor pickleball, dining and lawn games venue in the center of the Phoenix Valley, will celebrate its first anniversary with a free, family-friendly party Friday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 11 p.m. Admission and every activity are free, and guests can RSVP at dinkanddine.com/bigdill.

For one night, pickleball courts that normally rent for $50 an hour will open to the public at no charge, with free beginner clinics built for people who have never held a paddle.

Highlights include:

• Free beginner pickleball clinics at 6 and 7 p.m., and free open play on the courts from 6 to 11 p.m.
• A free beginner cornhole clinic at 6 p.m. and a free cornhole competition from 7 to 10 p.m.
• Game Show Battle Rooms live on the stage at 8:15 p.m., pulling teams from the crowd for survey battles and 60-second challenges
• DJ, giveaways, photo booth, stilt walker, First Annual Pickle Eating Contest and kids' games including Pass the Pickle and Dill or No Dill
• Food and drinks from PaddleHeads Bar & Eatery, the venue's scratch kitchen and full bar, available for purchase

Both games are growing rapidly as leisure activities and competitive sports, and organizers designed the evening so first-timers can have fun learning the games with professional coaches and equipment provided free of charge.

"We opened with a simple idea: The game of pickleball deserved a home worth showing up to, and that home should feel welcoming whether you're chasing a ranking or holding a paddle for the first time," said Ken Gerdau, co-founder and CEO of Dink & Dine Pickle Park. "One year in, the best way to thank our guests who built this growing community with us is to throw our doors open and let the whole Valley play and learn for free."

Media are welcome on site during the event. Aerial and interior b-roll, high-resolution photography and interviews with Riley Palmer, director of pickleball; Martin Fabian, chef and executive kitchen manager; and Gina Ramirez, director of cornhole, are available on request.

Dink & Dine Pickle Park is also available as an ongoing resource for reporters covering family entertainment, dining, youth and adult recreation and the growth of pickleball in Arizona.

EVENT DETAILS

What: Dink & Dine Pickle Park First Anniversary Party

When: Friday, Oct. 9, 6 to 11 p.m.

Where: Dink & Dine Pickle Park, 1017 N. Dobson Road, Mesa, Arizona 85201, centrally located in the Phoenix Valley right off the 202 and 101 freeways in Mesa Riverview

Cost: Free. RSVP for clinic and court spots that are limited

RSVP: dinkanddine.com/bigdill

Media Contact:

Jonathan Ward, Marketing Director

Dink & Dine Pickle Park

480-719-1809

jonathan.ward@dinkanddine.com

ABOUT DINK & DINE PICKLE PARK

Dink & Dine Pickle Park is a premium pickleball, dining and entertainment venue centrally located in the Phoenix Valley, just off the freeway. Opened in October 2025, it features 13 indoor and covered pickleball courts, a scratch kitchen and full-service craft cocktail bar at PaddleHeads Bar & Eatery with local Arizona beer partnerships, and a private Clubhouse with tech-equipped event rooms for corporate and group events. Its covered outdoor park adds cornhole lanes, a live stage, and a jumbo screen for sports and entertainment watch parties. All of it is built around one idea: bring sports and dining together for a great time. For more information, visit dinkanddine.com. 

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