Westwind Resort launches winter tribute concert season for snowbirds

Westwind RV & Golf Resort opened its 2025-26 concert season in the Crystal Ballroom on Jan. 10, kicking off a weekly lineup of tribute shows that continue through March. The series, aimed at resort residents and winter visitors, staged a Roy & Ritchie tribute on opening night and follows with performances scheduled Jan. 17, Jan. 24 and Jan. 31, plus additional February and March dates.

This week's offering on Jan. 17 features Twist on Taylor and Dirt Road; subsequent billed acts include Traveling Wilbury Super Group on Jan. 24 and American Soldier on Jan. 31. Individual tickets and season passes are available, and the resort's box office posts hours and ticketing details on its event site.

For Yuma County, the series represents more than evening entertainment. Westwind's Crystal Ballroom is a social hub for long-term residents and the many seasonal RV visitors who fill the Valley each winter. Concerts help sustain local spending at restaurants, gas stations, and retail outlets, and they create shifts in traffic and parking patterns near the resort on show nights. For small businesses in nearby neighborhoods, those incremental dollars matter during the slow season.

There are also public health and accessibility considerations for events at RV resort venues. Many attendees at winter resorts are older adults or people with mobility needs. Close seating, crowded lobbies and shared restrooms can increase transmission risk for respiratory illnesses that circulate each winter. Organizers and patrons alike should be mindful of basic mitigation practices such as hand hygiene, staying home when ill, and using available accommodations for those with mobility or sensory needs. Checking the resort's ticketing page before attending can help visitors confirm seating arrangements, accessibility options and box office hours.

The concert season also raises questions about equity and local access. Weekly headline shows can be welcome community assets, but they can inadvertently price out lower-income Yuma residents if tickets and parking are not scaled to local needs. City and county stakeholders, neighborhood leaders and venue operators may consider partnerships or outreach to make sure concerts benefit both seasonal residents and long-term Yuma families.

For now, the series adds a steady rhythm to the Valley's winter calendar. Residents planning to attend should consult the resort's ticketing information, consider carpooling or using neighborhood ride options to ease parking demand, and take basic health precautions to protect more vulnerable attendees. With thoughtful planning, the Westwind season can sustain local business, foster social connection among snowbirds and neighbors, and keep the Crystal Ballroom a welcoming place for Yuma's winter community.