PORT ANGELES — An auction of flamboyantly decorated Christmas trees raised about $90,000 for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and Port Angeles Exchange Club during the first event of a three-day Festival of Trees that continues today.
A total of 45 trees decorated by volunteers — the most the 19th annual event, Festival of Trees, has seen to date — were auctioned Friday night during a $95-per-plate dinner and gala at the Vern Burton Memorial Community Center, said OMC Foundation Executive Director Bruce Skinner.
Skinner said the auction was one of the most successful yet, although it didn’t break last year’s record of $100,000.
The highest single bid — $5,000 — was for a tree called “Holiday Splendor.”
The tree, sponsored by Westport Shipyard, came with a day cruise on a yacht, a club chair, ottoman, mahogany book shelf and other premiums.
But it was Olympic Distributing’s “Mardi Gras” tree that brought in the most money for the OMC Foundation.
Skinner said that the tree and its prizes were won with two separate $3,000 bids.
He said that the bidders agreed to share the prizes — a Christmas party at the Port Angeles Senior Center and a guided light tour of homes decorated with Christmas lights — but only one will take the tree home.
“One person just wanted the premium,” Skinner said.
“The other wanted the tree and the premium. So we sold it twice.”
Family Days
Family Days at the Festival of Trees, held Saturday, continues from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the community center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
By paying $5 per person — with children younger than 12 admitted for free — visitors can view the auctioned trees before they are taken to their new owners, and enter a raffle for five others that need homes.
They can also purchase wreaths and participate in Family Days events put on by the Exchange Club — musical entertainers, children’s activities areas, puppet shows, games, crafts and photographs with Santa.
The ever-popular Teddy Bear Tea for parents and children on Friday sold out, and the Senior Breakfast was held Saturday.
Revenue from the three-day-long event goes to the OMC Foundation, which shares a portion of it with the Exchange Club.
The OMC Foundation uses its share to purchase equipment and supplies for Olympic Medical Center.
Second-highest bid
The second highest single bid of $3,300 was for a tree called “Wine Country,” sponsored by Port Angeles Tire Factory. It came with a handcrafted gazebo.
Winning the Designer’s Choice Award were two trees: “Alice in Wonderland,” sponsored by Jim’s Pharmacy and Alaska Far West Fish Camp, and “Americana,” sponsored by Susan Parr Travel.
Skinner expects next year’s auction to include more than 50 trees.
“We already got 25 . . . that have submitted themes for next year,” Skinner said.
“And we just have a lot more people say they want to do that next year.”
Skinner said that the event is growing in popularity because it not only supports the OMC Foundation, but also allows people to show off their own hidden artistic abilities.
“This event is a fundraiser obviously, first and foremost . . . but a great second reason is, it’s a tremendous way to show off the artistic talents of the North Olympic Peninsula,” he said.
“It has grown into an event that people want to be a part of.”
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.