BRANDON — Due to COVID-19 issues, the 32nd Annual Great Brandon Auction will be taking place in a very non-traditional way this year. Organizers have had to “Think Outside The Tent” and decided to move into a downtown storefront.
Because pandemic restrictions rule out an auction under the tent at Estabrook Park, a donation from Heather and John Bierschenk has allowed auction organizers to stage it in the former Brown’s Gift Shop location at 6 Park Street. For two weeks, Aug. 1-Aug.15, the site will be open for at least four to five hours a day and manned by volunteers. 
There will be various ways to purchase items in the auction. Most gift certificates, new items, original art and “high ticket” items will be handled through a silent auction, where bidders keep track of items they’re interested in and update their bids on a regular basis. Other merchandise will be also be part of the silent auction but we will also have a “Buy It Now” amount listed so the item can be purchased immediately. 
During the two weeks, donations of auctionable goods will continue to be dropped off, so that folks can keep coming into the store to check bids and view new items. Auction organizers are excited about this new effort and hope to be able to minimize any financial hit the Chamber would have taken if no auction happened at all.
Auction updates will be posted at brandon.org, with a list of many of the items and pictures of cool and special donations. 
In this year’s auction announcement, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce said, “We’re a tough little town and we’ve all supported each other through all the travails that have presented themselves to us —  let’s not stop now!”
Hours for the Great Brandon Auction — Inside Instead:
•  Monday through Wednesday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
•  Thursday and Friday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
•  Saturday:  8 a.m.-5 p.m.
•  Sunday: 11a.m.-4 p.m.