Annual Creston Auction returns this weekend
Shoppers check out a morel mushroom woodcarving up for auction at the 57th annual Creston Auction on Saturday, April 1. The Creston Auction and Country Fair is the largest annual fundraiser for the all-volunteer Creston Fire Department and has been held in Creston since 1966. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
A field packed with the most unlikely treasures, thousands of people browsing and buying, along with multiple auction wagons working at once — it’s all part of the annual Creston Auction and Country set to return this weekend.
The auction, which runs April 6-7, is the largest fundraiser for the Creston Fire Department and has been held since 1966. Consignment Day when donated items can be dropped off is April 5.
The auction takes place at Creston, 12 miles east of Kalispell on Montana 35.
The fire department’s 30 volunteers rely heavily on this benefit to support them in responding to over 370 calls this past year.
Calls continue to increase, and Creston Fire has outgrown its 1960-era fire station on Highway 35. The building can barely accommodate modern fire apparatus and with the weekly training sessions for the volunteer firefighters and medical personnel, as well as the department’s fundraising efforts, it is undeniable that a larger station is needed, according to a release. Steady progress has been made and Creston Fire and Friends of Creston Fire continue the ongoing process of raising money for the construction of Replacement Station 251.
The auction begins with Consigment Day on Friday, April 5 when consigned or donated items will be accepted. Items can be consigned, meaning a substantial portion of the sale price goes back to the seller, or donated, meaning all proceeds go to Creston Fire. Items will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the sale grounds in Creston. Saturday bid tickets will be available for early purchase also.
On Saturday, April 6 the grounds open at 7 a.m. and the general merchandise auction kicks off at 9 a.m., following opening ceremonies. Saturday’s $10 bid tickets go on sale at 7 a.m. Attendees can also purchase locally made art and handicrafts, rummage sale items, homemade baked goods and food from local vendors.
On Sunday, April 7 the vehicle and equipment sale begins at 11 a.m. The day’s $10 bid tickets go on sale at 9 a.m.
There is no entrance fee and no buyer’s premium. Bid ticket revenue goes entirely toward paying for 24-hour weekend security.
For more info, call 406-250-7396, visit crestonfire.org, or find Creston Auction on Facebook.