Austin’s Mimosa Fest 2024 is back and bigger than ever! This daytime brunch party takes place Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. at Wanderlust Wine Collective, located at 702 Shady Ln, Austin, Texas 78702.

Enjoy bottomless mimosas, light bites, a DJ with live music, food trucks, activation stations and local vendor shopping. What more can you ask for?

This year, a portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to Austin Pets Alive, supporting their vital work in lifesaving animal welfare programs, as well as animal fostering and adopting in the community. (I’ll toast to that!) And use code MIMOSAFEST for 25% off tickets.

Returning for its third year, Mimosa Fest is an annual event created by All About You Event Management, a woman and minority-owned special event planning firm based in Austin. Founded by Necoya Tyson, All About You Event Management is a full-service special event planning firm that produces and designs weddings, social functions and corporate events custom to each company or client’s unique personality and style. 

Necoya also owns Lightsey Event Solutions, a minority, woman-owned business with a team that has over 100 combined years of experience in the events industry. She’s also put on networking events for vendors in the event industry – “Mornings are for Mimosas.”

We caught up with the mastermind behind these businesses and creator of Mimosa Fest – Necoya Tyson, Chief Event Officer of Lightsey Event Solutions and All About You Event Management.

Tell us a little about your background and event management experience. 

I’ve been planning events as far back as college where I studied Mass Communication. I started with campus events via my sorority and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. I also worked at an apartment complex that catered to college students when I was a senior in college. I was in charge of the community events. This prompted me to apply for a job with an association as their community development & event coordinator. The rest is history! 

Did you always aspire to be a business owner? Or did life take an unexpected turn? 

No, I didn’t actually! Life definitely took an unexpected turn. I took a job where I was the Exhibits & Meetings Manager. Well, six months in, there were 3 rounds of layoffs. That scared me! So I started my own business as something to fall back on in case I was caught up in something like that. 

What was the inspiration behind Mimosa Fest?

I host an event called Mornings Are for Mimosas. This event had two parts: The workshop for newly engaged couples and the networking series for wedding and event vendors. A friend of mine had the idea to turn that into a conference, but I felt that event planning conferences were oversaturated. So I thought perhaps I could turn it into something more like a one-day festival and focus on my favorite things: music, shopping, community, and of course… MIMOSAS! 

How do you set your businesses apart from others in your industry?

Honestly, I come as my authentic self. I always stay true to myself, by maintaining professionalism, and I’m always transparent with my clients and everything that I do. 

What advice would you give to someone just starting their own business? 

Don’t give up! Entrepreneurship is no easy feat, but it’s rewarding and worth all of the sacrifices. If you’re still working a “day job” – keep that up! Use your paychecks to help fund your passion. That’s okay! 

You’re also a full-time mom; how is it balancing mom and work life? 

Some days are harder than others. I always make time for and prioritize the important dates and milestone moments with my son. I travel a lot for my businesses and clients, so having a strong support system, like my village, is imperative. I’ve had a lot of changes in my life and my businesses over the last few years, but I’ve always prioritized my son.

How do you plan on expanding Mimosa Fest to other cities? 

Mimosa Fest is very much a warm, welcoming environment for all. I look for cities or locations that have that same feel — especially cities that are progressive and open. Austin does that for me! So as we keep the momentum of this event going, we’re expanding to Richmond, Virginia, this year and looking to add Phoenix, Arizona, next year. My goal is to have the event in three cities (East Coast, West Coast, and Central) to continue to highlight local businesses and talent. 

Where do you see Mimosa Fest five years from now? Ten? 

Five years from now I see Mimosa Fest being a three-day event and festival with various activities on each day and Sunday remaining the day party of the year! Ten years from now, I see us hosting the event in more cities from coast to coast. 

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Cover photo courtesy Necoya Tyson.

Leean Vargas is the Highlight Reel newsletter editor at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She is a concert enthusiast who loves traveling, photography, good food, and discovering new hangout spots in her beloved city, Austin, Texas.