Save the date!
Holmen Area Rotary Club's 18th Annual Service Auction
Friday Evening, May 1st 2026
Social Hour starts at 5 pm - Live Auction at 6 PM
New Venue!
Celebrations on the River
2100 Dawson Ave
La Crosse, WI 54603
The Holmen Area Rotary Club will hold their Service Auction fundraiser on Friday Evening, May 1st at the luxurious Celebrations on the River on French Island. The event starts with a social hour at 5:00 and includes an appetizer buffet, a Live Auction of unique items and services, bucket raffles and more. Auctioneer Alex Goodman sets a fun and active pace for the evening. Live Auction items in the past have included gourmet cakes, airplane flights, sailboat excursions, weekend getaways, special dinners, grass cutting, car detailing and many, many more. Items will be listed on the website as they are announced. Tickets are only $40 Price of the ticket includes a fabulous hot appetizer bar and there will be a cash bar. Reserve a table and invite your friends! Event sponsorships are also available. Be a part of an exciting evening of fun, community, food, and auction to raise funds for Coulee Region Community needs. This event is our club's largest fundraising effort; it has been happening for 17 years and has raised over $300,000 that has been used to make our community and world a better place. For more info call Judy at 608-780-1628
Keep your eyes on this space as we announce the list of unique offerings for this year's auction!
This Years Sponsors-
Live Auction Items
1.) GOURMET CAKES - One of these delectable gourmet cakes can be yours, if the price is right. They’re way more better than your mama’s and not the usual ‘cake walk’ fare. And they taste as good as they look! Plates and forks are included so eat it here or take it home to enjoy! - Judy McHugh
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake - the perfect cake! salty peanut butter frosting. The chocolate drizzle & chopped Reese’s completes with layers of fudgy chocolate filling & topped with an abundance of sweet and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake - Extra rich and irresistible chocolate cake.
- Red Velvet Cake - Deep red layers of mild chocolate cake with white chocolate cream filling, buttercream frosting, white chocolate drip, and whole strawberries on top.
- Almond Raspberry Cake - A delightful almond flavored white cake with raspberry filling and creamy buttercream frosting. Topped with fresh, sweet raspberries & raspberry drizzle. A crowd favorite!
- Almond Raspberry n’ Blueberry Cake - The same delightful almond flavored cake with blueberry filling, blueberries and raspberries on top with raspberry drizzle!
- Classic Carrot Cake - Four layers of moist cake with freshly grated carrots and golden raisins. Filled with sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting and topped with toasted coconut and pecans. A wonderful classic!
- Chocolate Overload Cake - Deluxe chocolate cake with fudge filling, chocolate buttercream, chocolate ganache and chocolate curls on top. What’s not to love?
- Almond Raspberry Gluten Free Cake - Almond Raspberry with raspberry filling and a creamy buttercream frosting & it’s all gluten free!
2.) FISHING WITH A REGULAR GUY
Spend the day with Bob and Lucy (the dog) in their 16 foot boat fishing on the Mississippi river. Troll the wingdings or float worms over the top. Fling baits into the weeds of the backwaters or dibble the snags for panfish. Noodle for catfish if you so desire. Fishing on the Mississippi is never boring. You can catch a dozen fish in a day and they could all be different species. Or just hang out and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the river. Bob will provide the tackle if needed and pack a delicious shore lunch. If you do manage to catch something, he will even clean your fish for you at the end of the day. There is room to comfortably include two adults or an adult and a couple of kids or heck just send the kids and have some peaceful time to yourself. This could be done during the week or weekend on any mutually agreed upon date. Figure up to 6 hours of fishing fun. - Bob Buck
3.) SEAFOOD BOIL AND SUNSET CRUISE
Classic Seafood Boil for 6 guests served on our deck, overlooking a bay on the backwaters of the Black River. Cocktail hour with sodas, wines and spirits will precede the dinner and continue through the meal. Afterwards, we will go on a pontoon boat cruise down the Black River and out onto the main channel of the Mississippi, returning as the sun goes down over the bluffs. We can then hang out on the deck again and converse by the light of the fire table. - Dean and Nancy McHugh
4.)DOG SITTING
One Year of unlimited Free Dog Sitting for One dog in my home. Dog owner must provide food during the stay(s). Subject to availability and two week notice of stay request is preferred. I will pick up dog from you within 30 mile radius of Onalaska and return at end of stay. I am a background checked and approved pet sitter through Rover.Com. My home does have other dogs who will make great playmates to entertain your furry family member while you are away. Your pet will come home happy and tired! - Jamie Thielker
5.) SPECIAL OCCASION CAKES
Up to 4 cakes baked and decorated just for your special occasion. Birthday, Anniversary, First Communion or to cure the Monday Blues Cake. - Callie Horstman
6.) LEW HARNED SCOTCH WHISKY SOCIETY TASTING
The Whisky Sampler with 3 single malt scotch and glasses, includes a distinctive Rotary Fellowship pin and private Single Malt Tasting. The Madison Scotch Whisky Fellowship Group was renamed the “Lew Harned Society”. - Todd Ondell
7.)WINE SPIRITS AND MORE -
Wine, Spirits and more. This will be a foodie delight. I will be your chauffeur. I will pick you and another couple up, at your home, and whisk you away for a day of wine, spirits and culinary delights. We will start at the distillery in downtown La Crosse for a flight of their most popular spirits with hors d'oeuvres to match. If you prefer beer over spirits, we can accommodate you here. I will send each couple home with their favorite bottle to sample long after the day is over. Next stop will be Elmaro Winery for some "Bites and Flights." Their staff will guide you through a tasting of 5 wines and small bite food pairings, while describing each over the course of an hour. A winery tour will also be arranged because we will have to walk it off to make room for dinner. And yes, each couple will be sent home with their favorite bottle of wine. The last stop, Villa Belleza Winery and Vineyards in Pepin. A Tuscan meal served with Tuscan style wines. You will be helping to prepare part of it and you will not go hungry because this is a cooking class and if you can't cook the chef has also prepared dishes for you to savor. Chef Antonio is a well-known Italian Gourmet and author with nearly 4 decades of experience. He first learned to cook as a boy in his mother's kitchen on the Island of Sardinia in Italy. He is the father of the pizza biscotta, the twice-baked pizza. Because of the cost of the classes I will not entertain a bid of less than 1200 dollars. Boun appetite.
8.) PET PRINT -
This is a hand-drawn, colored pencil portrait that captures the vibrance and spirit of your furry friend. By using a reference photo (or photos) of your feline friend or your puppy pal, your 9x12 portrait will be hand-crafted by artist Sarah Ryan, centered on a white background and framed. Whether it be your current pet or one who has passed, Sarah will capture that customized moment in time that will surely be a cherished family heirloom. - Sarah Ryan
9.) IN-HOME FOOTCARE -
Billy Crystal once said; “I can’t be funny if my feet don’t feel good.” With this auction item you are going to be hilarious! This item consists of 4 visits from a Certified Foot Care specialist, Ms. R Peterson, , RN, Masters in Nursing. Ms. Peterson will evaluate your foot health, trim your nails, including nails that are thickened, file any callouses, massage your feet and educate you about proper foot care. Each treatment is approximately 30-45 minutes in length. Visitation area limited to the within 20 miles of La Crosse. – Helen Lethlean
More to come!
BASKET RAFFLES
1.) PAMPERED DOG BASKET - Everything to make your favorite pooch happy! - George Hammond
2.) GLAMPING GEAR - Things that will make your camping experience memorable. - Brett Gullicksrud
3.) CHOCOLATE, NUTS AND A LOT O LUCK - Great eats and a winning lottery ticket (maybe) - Lisa Fisher
4.) GROW-UR-OWN GARDEN BASKET- Raised garden bed and assorted accessories - Eric Davidson
5.) THINKING AND DRINKING - Liquer, puzzles and brain games. How smart are you after a couple of drinks? - Lisa Fisher
6.) THE "ULTIMATE GETAWAY" TRAVEL BASKET - Golden Delta Airline Ticket gift certificate, Beach Towels,Travel pillow, taning butter, snacks, travel bottles and more - Jennifer Dieck and Kris Mueller
7.) SOUTHWEST BASKET - Unique bread board with turquoise inlay, Hand woven table runner, Aromatic sage bundle, a six pack of delicious IPAs, opener and gift card - Helen Lethlean
8.) HERE'S TO COOKING - A basket of Recipes and Accessories to make cooking fun! - Peg Knobloch
9.) SPICE IT UP! - A basket of exotic and fun spices with instructions on how they can change your life! - Tom Knobloch
10.) GRILL MASTER BASKET - Tools, Spices, Sauces and Gift Certificate to Holmen Meat Locker - Tim Medinger
11.) MARVELOUS MARGARITAS BASKET - Top notch Tequila, orange liquer, mix and fixins for the perfect happy hour cocktail - Kathy Reinolt