CLUE

COLDWATER – Tibbits 41st Annual Auction, Clue! The Game is On! steps off the game board into the opera house and asks attendees to join game night for Tibbits’ largest fundraiser of the year, which will feature five days of online silent and live auctions in November.

A time-honored tradition, Tibbits Auction is the social event of the year, and organizers expect it to be again this year, even if the auction is online.  Plans for the auction with its Clue theme are underway and volunteers and staff are busy collecting the donations needed to make the event a success.

The classic board game has players solving a mystery to discover which character committed the crime, in which room, with which weapon: Professor Plum did it, in the ballroom, with the candlestick. In Tibbits’ case, Professor Plum did it, with the winning bid, for the opera house!

Businesses and individuals are encouraged to participate. Donations can be goods, services or monetary donations. Past items have included art, baskets, fine jewelry, get-away packages, gift certificates, home décor, tools, equipment, crafts, holiday items, family experiences, sports and theatre tickets, dinners, parties, and other special events.

Cash sponsorships are also needed and will be broken into five categories:  Game Board, $1000+; Secret Passageway, $500-999; Rooms, $250-499; Characters, $125-249; and Weapon $75-124.

According to Andy French, Tibbits Development Director, “This year’s Annual Auction will become another unique one-of-a-kind event in true Tibbits fashion combining in-person, phone, web bidding and live-streaming opportunities with multiple times to enjoy the fun!”

“Clue! The Game is On!” will feature bidding online. The silent auction will be divided into sections – Scarlet, Mustard, and Plum – in honor of the game characters. Bidding for each section will close on consecutive days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The live auction will be a streamed event. Bidding during the live event will also be online, by phone, and through prior arrangement. All the items will be available to view online. In-person viewings are available by scheduling a time the week of Nov. 3 in socially-distanced groups at the historic Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI.

According to French, “We encourage everyone to register early and they can start viewing the items as they come in starting October 1. We’ll have all auction items displayed at the theatre starting Tuesday, November 3 for people to come in by appointment. That’s also when bidding begins for everything except the live items.”

The registration fee is $5 per person, which also enters them into a drawing for a pair of tickets to a Tibbits event in 2021. Item photos will be available on the special auction website starting Oct 1 with an item list available at Tibbits.org. Sites will be updated weekly as donations arrive.

Tibbits staff and trained volunteers will be available in advance and throughout the item viewing appointments to assist patrons with registration, bidding, or any other auction needs.

Bidding for the live auction will start at the live-streaming event Sat. Nov. 7 at 7pm. Those who are unable to attend the live auction can call the office in advance to set up a maximum bid.

This year’s event also features a large raffle sponsored by Great Lakes Chiropractic. Prizes are $1000, $250, and Tibbits Summer Theatre season tickets and raffle tickets are available for $10.

To donate to the Tibbits Annual Auction, drop items off Monday through Friday 9-5 at the Tibbits administrative office, 93 W. Chicago Street, Coldwater, or call 517.278.6029 to arrange for pick up. Donation deadline is Oct. 16. Donations must be new, vintage, or gently used in clean condition.

For more information on the Tibbits 41st Annual Auction, visit www.Tibbits.org or call Tibbits at 517.278.6029.