In a novel approach to mixing the atmosphere of a fair with serious fundraising, nearly a dozen charities and causes will come together on the grounds of Collins House on Friday and Saturday with booths filled with extraordinary goods from furniture to antiques, fine art to jewelry, books, collectibles and more.
The event, hosted by the Historic Bahamas Foundation -- Trinkets & Treasures is believed to be the first of its kind to be staged locally. Participating organizations will walk away with 70 percent of all proceeds, with 30 percent going toward Historic Bahamas Foundation. Those funds are earmarked for the restoration of The Hermitage, Cat Island.
Trinkets & Treasures will open for buyers and bidders on Friday from 10 am to 2 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gates open Saturday at 9 a.m. Live entertainment will begin at noon with a brief opening ceremony set for 1 p.m.
A live auction will follow at 2 p.m. with some 75 items up for grabs. Popular radio host and hospitality executive Ed Fields will serve as auctioneer.
"We believe that the combination of participants, the causes and charities they represent and the goods they have selected to offer for sale to raise funds will be so unusual that it will bring antique-and-treasure hunting to the grounds of historic Collins House in a way that has never quite been done before in Nassau," said Trinkets and Treasures chair Diane Phillips.
"We have participants who are donating thousands of dollars worth of valuable and unusual furniture, antiques, lamps, rare books, fine art and jewelry, including one-of-a-kind pieces. Some of these pieces have been in storage for years and are now being brought out because there is a place and a cause the owners want to get behind."
In addition to goods and experiences for sale or available by auction, the fairgrounds will be filled with food vendors, including the Rotary Clubs van, bouncing castle, music by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band and Rangers unit, Ambassador Chorale and others.
"We also have special appearances -- the new all-electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf, will be available for test drives between 4-6 p.m. on Friday evening. Body painting artist Monty Knowles will be present with the Junkanoo nymph on Saturday and Royal Bahamas Defence Force Acting Commander Tellis Bethel will share his story about The Lucayan Sea," said Phillips.
An online auction at auction.bahamaslocal.com will continue until the live auction on Saturday. There is nearly $100,000 worth of goods and experiences up for grabs including a Stuart Cove Dive boating experience for 20, dinner at some of The Bahamas' finest restaurants including Albany and Sapodilla, four $250 gift certificates from Super Value, gift certificates from Kelly's Home Centre, a Ricardo Knowles original painting, tickets for two on Sky Bahamas, a weekend at luxurious Grand Isle Resort & Spa, Exuma, cigars, chocolates and luxury watches from Graycliff, numerous gifts from John Bull, Starbuck's and La Parfumerie and more. Arawak Homes is offering to waive all architectural and engineering fees --a value that could easily exceed $35,000 -- even if the winner builds on her own lot. The first DFIA (Federation Internationale l'Automobile) Director for the Caribbean is donating a kart, six sessions with a leading personal fitness trainer available has been made available, and among the most sought after one of a kind luxury goods will be two original Harl Taylor bags.
Admission is $1 at the gate and proceeds from sale of goods and the auction will go to participating organizations including Bahamas Red Cross, Sickle Cell Association, Historic Charles Towne, Blairwood Academy (for special needs teacher at Adelaide Primary and Gambier Primary), PMH Foundation, Prince of Peace Lodge, Links, Cofamibia, the Bahamas National Feeding Network and more.

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