News

Bearfootin' Bears fetch record $140,000 in auction that ends season

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 17, 2022

In an exciting conclusion of a month-long virtual auction, the 20^th annual Bearfootin’ Bear Auction on Saturday generated $140,250 to benefit local nonprofits — a $38,250 increase from the 2021 total and almost three times the amount made in the last in-person auction in 2019.

Eight of the bears sold at the Buy Now option for $10,000, which was available through the Thursday leading up to the auction. A total of 63 bidders placed more than 239 bids throughout the auction period.

While the virtual format has replaced the traditional in-person auction for the second year, a countdown celebration was held at the Historic Courthouse Plaza downtown. Nonprofit representatives and volunteers cheered on their bears as bids came in during the exciting final minutes of bidding. 

“We continue to be surprised and amazed at the success of the Bearfootin’ Auction after pivoting to the virtual bidding format in 2020, it is a true testament to the beautiful work by our local artists and the charitable nature of our local community,” said Jamie Carpenter, the city's downtown manager. “We are also thrilled to share that the Friends of Downtown bear, Celebration ‘22' painted by Diamond Cash, which commemorates the city’s 175^th Birthday this year, will stay with the city as a fixture in Edwards Park in the future.”

Part of the proceeds from each bear benefit a designated local nonprofit. The first $3,000 of the winning bid is split with the organizing nonprofit, Friends of Downtown Hendersonville, to sustain the event and support the overall Downtown Program. Any amount above the first $3,000 goes entirely to the designated nonprofit (in other words, a maximum of $1,500 per bear will go towards Friends of Downtown Hendersonville).

A new edition of the beloved Main Street bears will debut next May. For more information visit downtownhendersonville.org.