October 24, 2016 at 4:50 p.m.
Adieu to the Hodag auction
Small Hodags auctioned off for the last time
Adieu to the Hodag auction
By Kayla Thomason-
This was the last year that the small Hodag statues were to be auctioned off, as the fabricator has retired.
"It was a great ride while it lasted," said Kathy Brich, chairman of Hodags on Parade.
If a new fabricator can be found, the Hodag auction may resume in the future, organizers said. The Hodag Howl may continue without the Hodag auction, they added.
"It's kind of sad, I felt bad we couldn't get (the Hodags) out this year but because of the construction downtown we weren't able to," Brich said.
Brich wasn't the only one one was sad to learn that this would be the last small Hodag auction. Karen Steinmetz, who dressed as Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" and came with some scarecrows, has attended for four years and has enjoyed the event.
"I'm excited and sad at the same time because it's been a great program for fundraisers for our downtown so I'm really wanting to get a Hodag this year because I know it will be the last of the little ones," she said.
She had her eye on the Green Bay Packer, tiger and gray Hodags.
Steinmetz loved the decorations and the event, and liked that it was held at the Taj Mahal.
She was also glad proceeds from the event will go toward beautifying the downtown.
"I think the beautification of our downtown, it will add a lot to the planting and putting the trees back up because it looks kind of bare right now," she said.
First-time attendee Angel DeLeon came dressed as a flapper.
"It's fun," she said. "It seems like everybody is dressed in really great costume."
She liked the scarecrows and Spy vs. Spy costumes.
DeLeon was sad to hear it was going to be the last year the Hodags were going to be auctioned off.
"I want every Hodag," she said. "I'm not going to lie, every time I pass one I want one."
She and her husband tried for some dinner gift certificates and other things, and was pleased that the proceeds were going to the streetscape project.
"Any time you can do an event and it's for charity it's well worth the cause," she added.
"We just want to thank the community for helping and supporting us these eight years, it's been a great ride, and we want to thank everyone for loving our Hodags that have been on the street and people that have come and purchased the Hodags and also people that have come to our events to help support us," said Brich.
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