If you go
› What: Hullabowloo fundraiser for Chattanooga Area Food Bank.› When: 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18› Where: Wilson Air Center, 932 Jubilee Drive.› Admission: $75 (may be purchased at the door).› Website: www.hullabowloo.com (to find link for advance purchase).
What's all the Hullabowloo about?
It's Chattanooga Area Food Bank's big party that touches down Saturday night, Feb. 18, in Wilson Air Center at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.
Hullabowloo is the food bank's signature event whose name was derived from its original theme as a party featuring local artists and a chance for guests to sculpt their own clay bowls. The party's crowd has grown to the point it's no longer feasible for such a large number to make bowls, so the party has evolved to highlight culinary arts.
Scott Bruce, food bank director of marketing and communications, says guests can sample a variety of gourmet food provided by chefs from local restaurants and area schools. Among the latter are chefs from Baylor School, Covenant College and the University of the South at Sewanee.
Participating restaurants, as of press time, include Alleia, Bluewater Grille, Chuy's, Crust Pizza, Dish T'Pass, Feed Co. Table + Tavern, Firebirds, Five Bar, Kozy Cooking Catering, Taziki's, Terra Mae and Big Chill & Grill. Publix grocery and Johnston Woods Center in Cleveland, Tenn., also will be represented.
The $75 ticket includes unlimited samples of these gourmet dishes, beer and wine. All guests must be 21 or older and have a valid photo ID with birth date to enter.
The hangar will be transformed with a kaleidoscope of color and lights. Rubik's Groove, an '80s cover band, is back by popular demand for another performance.
Emcee Jim Kennedy will lead the crowd in a different type auction being introduced at this year's Hullabowloo.
"It's a fairly new method that is just hitting town," says Bruce. "Instead of auctioning off items that only one person can win and take home, we are doing an auction where people bid on items needed by the food bank. This gives everyone a chance to be part of our mission and help end hunger in the area."
Items up for bids, for example, include a scissor lift, floor scrubber, manual pallet jack, emergency food box and the sack pack program. As each item comes, Kennedy will encourage the crowd to bid (donate) toward its purchase or its fund. As an individual donates, their name will flash up on the big screen (or they may bid anonymously).
"We'll have an overall goal on the screen. As people donate, we'll see the total go up on-screen, and excitement will grow as we get closer to the goal," explains Bruce.
The auction uses BidPal, so guests must remember to charge their smartphones to bring with them. To save time at registration, participants should register at www.bidpal.net/hullabowloo before arriving at the party.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.