Unique items up for grabs at annual Auktion

Organizers are busy putting the final touches on the annual Northern Lights Auktion, the largest fundraiser of the year for the Nordic Heritage Museum.

Many auction items carefully labeled and ready to go.
The 26th annual event is this Sunday and those attending can expect “wonderful silent auction bidding,” one of the organizers tells us, “then it’s a scrumptious dinner, wonderful entertainment and live auction.” Eric Johnson of KOMO-TV will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and there will be a special tribute to Bert Lundh, former Board President and current honorary trustee of the Nordic Heritage Museum.

There will be about 350 lots in the silent auction and 40 to 50 lots in the live auction. Auction items include everything from rosemaled goods (shown right) and Scandinavian glass (shown below) to a private tour of the Royal Palace in Oslo. Organizers tell us that the highest valued item is a full set of Royal Copenhagen dishes, valued at $8,000. Other unique items include a cruise aboard the Nordic Heritage Museum’s 200-year-old Viking ship The Nordic Spirit; a barbecue and tour event aboard Captain Sig Hansen’s famous Deadliest Catch vessel The Northwestern; dinner for six at the home of the Swedish consul in Medina; a superb vintage rustic Norwegian carving; a Reykjavik, Iceland Spa trip including airfare; a Boeing 787 Dreamliner Tour; and an opportunity for two to attend Governor Chris Gregoire’s annual holiday reception.

Last year the auction brought in around $300,000 for the museum, organizers are hoping for the same this year. The money raised is used for the operation of the Museum’s programs. Tickets for Saturday’s event at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Ballroom are $125 per person. Click here for more information or call the museum at (206)789-5707.