For years, the auction at Westbrook Together Days has been a festival mainstay – and while it’s not known as a headlining event, volunteers say it’s part of what makes Together Days a true community gathering.

The 36th annual Together Days festival, taking place this Friday and Saturday, May 29-30, will likely bring 15,000-20,000 people into downtown Westbrook during the weekend for a full schedule of events that include a parade, live music, games, food and fireworks. For about three hours Saturday afternoon, a small but dedicated group of people will be auctioning off and bidding on items donated by hundreds of Westbrook and Gorham businesses.

Julie Villemaire, who has been organizing the auction for the Westbrook-Gorham Community Chamber event for the past four years, said Tuesday that it works to “bring everyone together” in the local business community – a perfect way for the chamber to highlight local businesses.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Each year, she said, a mailing list is used to contact over 250 businesses in Westbrook and Gorham, who donate items for the auction. This year, she said, the notable items include a $400 four-course dinner for two at the Frog & Turtle, stays at the Hilton Garden Inn in Portland’s Old Port and other hotels, two movie passes each month for a year from Cinemagic, and hundreds more.

Villemaire said some of the most popular items are unexpected, such as auto detailing from Westbrook’s car dealerships or oil changes from local businesses. Also popular, she said, are various “baskets” put together by a variety of groups.

Some of these are “kid-oriented” she said, with a summer swimming pool-themed basket with outdoor activities.

Villemaire said the auction was championed by Westbrook resident Leona Glidden, who had run the auction for years prior to Villmaire taking over. Villemaire is also a vice president and branch manager at Saco & Biddeford Savings.

There are normally about 130-150 items. Starting at noon on Saturday, the auction will sometimes last until 3 p.m. Villemaire said organizers will be getting more items up until Friday. She said 150 items will usually range in value between $10,000-$12,000.

Normally, the auction takes in roughly $5,000, which is used by the chamber toward the following year’s Together Days budget. Villemaire said that any funds raised over $5,000 go toward Westbrook High School scholarships.

This year’s auction will mark the 4th year that City Councilor Michael Foley has served as auctioneer for the event. Villemaire said Foley, who has been a councilor for a decade, knows local businesses and can give bidders the necessary information. Two years ago, City Councilor Mike Sanphy also helped.

On Tuesday, Foley said that while the auction isn’t known as the most exciting event, it has become a tradition, and is attended by a large core of visitors every year.

“People keep coming back to support local businesses, and support Together Days,” he said. “It can generate some buzz around local business too.”

Foley said he has fun playing auctioneer, although he said he hasn’t mastered the quick-paced style of professional auctioneers.

“It’s exciting, and I get to know a lot of people bidding and a lot of what businesses are offering,” he said, joking that he tries to rest his voice heading into the weekend. “It’s work, but it’s a unique type of work.”

Foley said Villemaire normally checks in prior to the event to make sure he’s not sick.

“What makes it easy and fun is all the work that Julie and her team do in advance,” he said.

At the auction, each bidder receives a bid number, with a duplicate held at a table that monitors the auction. Bidders can pay for items with credit cards at the auction.

“People enjoy it, and we enjoy doing it,” Foley said.

Dennis Dalton, the president of the chamber, charged with heading up Together Days, said Wednesday that the auction has a “long history of success, followers and a very good reputation” due to Glidden.

“Some of the deals can’t be beat,” he said.

The Westbrook Together Days fun at Riverbank Park always includes an opportunity for dunking.  File photo

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