Ball to cure cabin fever

Ready to nip cabin fever in the bud? Head over to the Lakeside Motel and Resort in Trout Creek, for a night out at the 6th annual Red Neck Ball. This year’s event, sponsored by the Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA), takes place on Saturday, March 7. The evening begins with a no-host social hour at 5 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m.

“If you’ve missed previous years, this is the year you have to go,” said Liz Stender, TCCIA chair. The Red Neck Ball is an evening full of live entertainment, costume contests, and prizes to be won. Las Vegas Don Manning will be serving as this year’s master of ceremonies; alongside Kevin Hill, who will once again return as the evening’s auctioneer. “It’s entertainment in itself, just to watch him auction off items,” Stender said. Every year the Red Neck Ball hosts a “backwards auction,” where you may be bidding on a rubber chicken, paper clips, or a tool set. “You never know what the auction is going to bring,” Stender expressed.

This year’s ever-popular raffle buckets will be filled with all kinds of surprises, which are estimated to be in the $300 range. “It could be anything from over $300 worth of power tools, or you could have a chance to win a really nice smoker, that was donated by First Security Bank. We have really great prizes this year, I’m really looking forward to them, and the entertainment is always funny,” Stender said.

The show starts off with D&D opening the event with their hillbilly porch music. The Misfit Music Trio brings a blend of crabgrass and bluegrass music to the stage, with a promise of some “foot stomping nostalgia.” The third act, country singing legends, the Tammy WhyNotts, will be gracing the stage with their presence. “You never know what they’re going to be singing. It’s guaranteed to be a night full of lots of laughter,” Stender chuckled.

Throughout the evening, there will be five acts, with three different auctions. Another raffle Stender mentioned, is the balloon popping raffle. The two big prizes you could win in this raffle include a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle and an Ellensburg Blue Agate ring. The tickets are $20 each and only 60 tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the TCCIA, last year’s Red Neck Ball brought in around $12,000. “All the proceeds go towards different events and park maintenance. The proceeds also support the community goodwill events throughout the year like Shakespeare in the Park and the Farmer’s Market,” Stender said. The money also supports all the local sports and music programs, who rely on the fundraiser for help.

“It’s a fun evening full of socializing, entertainment, and great prizes. It’s a great cause to give back to the community,” Stender exclaimed, “especially this time of year, when people are getting cabin fever, it’s a great time to come out and have some fun.”

In addition to all the raffles and auctions at the ball, the TCCIA will also be organizing a raffle for a Smith and Wesson hand gun and a Smith and Wesson Rifle. The tickets will be $20 and only 50 tickets will be sold, giving the people a better chance of winning. The TCCIA board members will be out pre-selling tickets and any remaining tickets will be sold at the ball.

Tickets for the Red Neck Ball are $25 for a couple or $15 for a single ticket. Tickets can be purchased at D&D Liquor and at the Lakeside Gift Shop. Dinner and drinks will be available to purchase through the Lakeside. This year pulled pork sandwiches, beans, and coleslaw will be served. Because of the nature of the acts performing, this event is only open to people 18 years and older.