Auction attendees could bid on experiences like the chance to roast their own coffee, brew their own beer, or go rock climbing.

Around 280 people came out for the 79th annual Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce Auction at Hawk’s View Golf Club in Lake Geneva on January 20, the first in-person iteration of the event since 2019. While the auction has traditionally been accompanied by a formal dinner, this year featured a “Winter Tasting Tour” where guests could sample wine, bourbon, and craft beer, as well as enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres. The auction itself boasted over 170 items and experiences up for bid, including a charcuterie board worth over $700.

“We ran out of room to display all of the auction items, due to the awesome response we had for donations,” said Burlington branch manager AVP Robin Callis, who was also one of the five members of the auction committee. “The entire chamber board rallied together to make this event a success, and we are extremely appreciative of the overwhelming response from the community. We hope next year’s event will be even bigger and better!”