BASS LAKE — The 34th Annual Elegant Auction is just around the corner on May 18, as part of The Pines Resort is transformed into a Vintage Circus for this grand event to benefit Oakhurst Community Park.
The Elegant Auction is the main fundraiser for the Oakhurst Community Park and is the life blood of the funds needed to maintain and improve Oakhurst’s only park.
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and start with a silent auction and raffle as well as entertaining games of chance and skill. A wide selection of fair-inspired treats prepared by the Pines and bottomless Champagne are included in the ticket price. Be on the lookout for fun signature cocktails available to purchase in addition to a full no-host bar available for guests’ enjoyment. Tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door and available here online.
Oakhurst Community Park courtesy park committee
This year the auction committee says they’ve invited other local organizations to join in on the Midway Games to help raise money for their charities as well. Participants include the Eastern Madera County SPCA, Oakhurst Sierra Rotary, Sierra Sunrise Rotary, Boys and Girls Club of Oakhurst and local FFA, to name a few. So come out and show them your support!
“We know that fundraising is a never-ending task for charitable groups, so we thought that we could allow others to join us and give them the opportunity to piggyback on our event for a win-win for all of us,” says Oakhurst Park Committee Chairman Andrew Pence.
Participating organizations will sponsor circus and carnival including games of chance like ring toss, giant Plinko, and cornhole. Guests will have fun playing and win some great prizes, all while supporting the park and other local organizations.
“Although the event is referred to as the Elegant Auction, it is not a black tie event,” Pence notes. “Dress to impress or with the theme is encouraged but not a requirement to come and enjoy this evening of fun.”
Oakhurst Community Park
Walt Bannon Drilling installed new water tanks at the park, courtesy Andrew Pence
The Elegant Auction is the major fundraising gala held to keep the park funded for the year. The event provides 100 percent of the funding for the equipment, maintenance, water and upgrades to the park.
Without funding from any state or county sources, the Oakhurst Community Park was a vision that became a reality solely through the contributions of residents and businesses in the mountain area communities and the support of out of area businesses, as well.
The property, on loan from Sierra Telephone, receives no government funds and is therefore improved and maintained solely by the generous donations of businesses and individuals in the community.
Walt Bannon crew installs new water tanks, courtesy Andrew Pence
From new playground equipment to covered patios, and two new 5,000 storage water tanks recently installed by Walt Bannon Drilling, Oakhurst Community Park continues to delight both residents and visitors alike. Attendance at the Elegant Auction is not only a great way to spend an evening among friends and neighbors, it’s a perfect opportunity to support one of the community’s greatest assets.
Live Auction
The star of the show is always the live auction, which starts by 8 p.m.
“To make room for our carnival booths, we’ve concentrated more on ‘experience packages’ and we’re pleased to have some exciting ones for our live auction this year,” says Live Auction Coordinator Christy Smith. “It gets better and better every year with generous donations from our local businesses and residents that support the park.”
Some of those experiences include the chance to get behind the wheel to drive a NASCAR, and even an opportunity to bid and win a chance to get in a giant ‘cash cube’ and win up to $1,000. This year the live auction will also offer a cooking class at the Elderberry House, a large carved bear created by Ryan Demusey, flowers for a year sponsored by the Enchanted Florist and a number of other great trips to the central coast and Mexico.
There’s an adventure package at the live auction with tour and equipment rental through Sierra Nevada Motor Sports, the opportunity to fly with several friends over Yosemite courtesy of Airborrn Aviation, tandem sky divewith Yosemite Skydive, ziplining with Yosemite Ziplines and Adventure Ranch, and horseback riding for two via Yosemite Trails.
Want your home to look elegant, as well as the auction? Bid on the Patio Makeover donated by Standard Plumbing, Western Sierra Garden & Gifts, R. Papike Construction, True Value, Custom Design Construction Interiors INC, Dr. Robert Brosi and Dr. Adrian Buca.
Another package feature to watch is ‘Tickets On the Town’ to include two tickets to each of the following events: Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Poker/Bingo Fun Night and Crab Feed, Sierra Sunrise Rotary Cajun Fest, Golden Chain Theater opening night for Here Come the Cows and Savannah Sipping Society, Soroptimist of the Sierras Chili Cookoff, Boy’s and Girls Christmas Tree Auction, and the Oakhurst Community Park Elegant Auction.
Oakhurst Park Committee Chair Andrew Pence demonstrates the Cash Cube
Tickets are available online at or at Nations Lending, 40879 Hwy 41 Suite 1a. Stay connected at Facebook.com/ElegantAuction for more details. To donate or if you have additional questions, email the committee or call Andrew Pence at (559) 908-5281. Event sponsors include Sierra Tel.
