the Auctions
We’ve combined the best of our experiences from past in-person events and our more recent experience with virtual events and will have three types of auctions.
Online Auction
The Online Auction is open to all bidders and will require separate registration via our auction site, which can be done anytime after the auction opens until it closes. Everyone who purchases tickets online will be sent an email when the auction opens but we’ll spread the word widely and you won’t need a ticket to register and bid in the online auction. You can browse the auction site without registering but registration in the auction site is required for bidding. See below for more information.
The Online Auction closes on Feb. 10th at 8:30pm.
Silent Dessert Auction
In keeping with Chocolate Festival tradition, all bidding on desserts will happen as part of our in-person Silent Dessert Auction during the event, using bidder numbers obtained either via Express Check-In for online ticket sales or onsite for those getting tickets at the door.
Winning bidders in the Silent Dessert Auction will need to pay for their auction items at the Cashier and obtain a receipt before picking them up at the Pick-Up area.
Live Auction
The live auction will feature all Premier Showcase, 1st prize, Grand Prize and People’s Choice desserts. These will be the “best of the best” from this year’s festival and all bidding will happen in person during the event. Signature dinners and other highly coveted culinary experiences will ONLY be available in the Online Auction so if that’s what you’re after, head to the online auction site!
Winning bidders in the Live Auction will need to pay for their auction items at the Cashier and obtain a receipt before picking them up at the Pick-Up area.
How the Online Auction Works
You’ll need to enter a payment method upon registration on the auction site. Once registered, you’ll be able to bid and track your bidding from a computer or any mobile device. You can browse the auction without registering, but you must register to bid.
The auction platform sends automatic outbid notifications so, once you’ve entered a bid on an item, you don’t need to keep checking back to see if you need to increase your bid. You will also have the option to automatically increase your bid (to your designated limit) on a certain item whenever someone outbids you.
Items in the Online Auction will be displayed at the event along with a computer monitor showing the auction site to keep tabs on the current bids. Volunteers will be available to assist with auction registration if needed.
When the Online Auction closes, winning bidders will be able to automatically “check out” via the payment method entered upon registration or use a different form of payment to check out with the cashier at the event.
The Online Auction closes on Saturday, February 10 at 8:30pm.
How Will I Get My Online Auction Items?
Winning bidders in the Online Auction will receive a text and email message when the Online Auction ends, notifying them that they’ve won an item.
Festival attendees who win Online Auction items may go directly to the Pick-Up Area to receive their items before leaving the event.
Online Auction winners who are not at the event will be contacted via email or phone in the days following the Festival to arrange pick-up or delivery of their items.