It’s time once again for Grace Christian Academy’s annual Winter Festival, so make plans to come out on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m.

As in years past, the festival promises something for every member of the family. There are games and inflatables for the kids featuring a 26-foot slide, obstacle course, sticky wall and the rock wall.

Concessions will include barbecue, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, hot chocolate and more.

In the weeks leading up to the Winter Festival, raffle tickets have been sold for three big ticket items. They include a Beretta 686 white onyx .28-gauge shotgun with case and 5 chokes, a $1,500 cash certificate or a Toshiba 46-inch full HD 1080p/120Hz LCD TV with Sony five-channel home audio/video system with Blu-Ray.

The tickets are only $10 each, and you may buy your ticket from any GCA student, at the school or at Southwest Georgia Farm Credit, Premier Sales or Nikki Lynn’s. The drawing will be held the night of the Winter Festival.

Admission to the event is free.

Tickets for games can be purchased in advance or at the gate. We also offer unlimited activities on most booths/attractions with the purchase of an armband for $20.

Silent auction

A major highlight of the Winter Festival is the silent auction. Numerous businesses and individuals have generously donated items and packages for bidding, and there is much to choose from.

Trips include a night at Chateau Elan; a weekend at Mexico Beach, compliments of Linda and Chip Perry; a weekend at The Georgian in Panama City Beach, compliments of Sheila and John Williams; use of a Lake Seminole vacation home, compliments of Brenda and Johnny Dowdy, and many more.

In the hunting, fishing and sporting goods category, auction items include an “Archery at Its Best” package. The winning bidder will enjoy a fully guided archery deer hunt with an opportunity for two bucks and three does, compliments of Aargon Farms.

There is also an half-day guided fishing trip on Lake Seminole, compliments of Weaver’s Guide Service; a two-day deer hunt for two, compliments of Todd Mills and Kenny Hollis; a half-day quail hunt at Southwind Plantation, including breakfast and lunch, compliments of J.E. Sharber Oil; a full-day guided fishing trip with Michael Conley, compliments of Dee’s Electric; a full-day deer hunt at Kimbrell Farms, compliments of Missy and John Williams; a Beretta accessory package (hat, gloves, etc.) and custom-built fish cookers, compliments of Kirk Jenkins; a large condo deer stand, compliments of Danimer; UGA football tickets on the 50, Georgia Tech basketball tickets, a signed Georgia Tech football, a Big Green Egg smoker and much more.

The art category includes items sure to become heirlooms.

A pen and ink of your home, compliments of Julie Harris; a 16-by-20 gallery wrap portrait with free sitting fee by Jessica Cannon Photography, 25 Christmas cards and a free sitting fee by Joy Key Photography, and an original Mitch Mercer painting are some of the featured items.

Don’t forget to check out the toy selection, where you can begin your Christmas shopping early.

We even have up for bid the hottest, incredibly hard to find toy of the season, the Zhu Zhu Hamster, along with the 2009 American Girl Doll Girl of the Year, a child’s John Deere Gator, compliments of Nichols Tractor; a pink Red Rider BB gun, compliments of Jake’s Pawn Shop; and a drum set, compliments of City Pawn.

There are also plenty of opportunities to bid on beauty and clothing items. A sampling includes an hour massage, facial and products, compliments of Serenity Med Spa; Costa Del Mar sunglasses from Bainbridge Vision Clinic; a Matilda Jane outfit, Mystic Tanning sessions, a 10-karat white gold diamond pendant necklace from Bishop’s Jewelers, 14-karat gold ear pins from Kres Jewelers, along with much more.

We’ve also made decorating for Christmas easier.

There is a live 7- to 8-foot Frasier fir, compliments of Springhill Christmas Tree Farm; several beautifully decorated fresh wreaths, compliments of Dr. Jack Leverett; Memorial Pediatrics, Henderson’s Grocery and Elizabeth’s.

Farm Credit and Elizabeth’s have also generously donated a fully decorated themed Christmas trees, and don’t forget to look for the beautiful outdoor nativity scene, compliments of Leon and Tina Brogon and Nikki Lynn’s.

There are also items for the decorating and sprucing up your home, garden items, birthday party packages and food galore.

This year’s services category features guitar lessons by Brad Burke, organization services by Ducks in a Row, trail riding or lessons, compliments of Circle Oaks; three months free tuition at GCA for dance, cheer or gymnastics, compliments of Murkerson’s; sight-seeing tours, compliments of Tony Cooper, and a week of Atlas Camp, compliments of Greg McDonald.

Another big hit from last year that will return this year is the queen/king of the carpool.

Live auction

We’ve brought the live auction back again, featuring auctioneer Tom Mills.

Exciting items up for bid include an authentic “Kids’ Crooked House” deluxe playhouse as seen on “Extreme Make Over Home Edition,” compliments of Dowdy and Whittaker and Danimer; a deep-sea fishing trip on the Lady J II for 10, compliments of Capt. Danny Tankersly and Brentwood Plantation; a child’s four-wheeler, compliments of Brian Dean Farms and Health Products & Yogurt Too; 14-karat white gold with three-quarter-carat sapphire and quarter-carat diamond earrings, compliments of Godwin Jewelers; a year’s membership to The Dove Club, compliments of Ralph Powell; a party package at the Kirbo Center Solarium with heavy hor’dourves for 50, compliments of Lisa McLendon Georgia Palm Beach Windows, and Southern Triad, and a custom painting by artist Angie Webb.

Children’s art auction

With help from parents and teachers, students have in the past created some beautiful art projects, both individually and as a class.

This year you can expect no less. Some of the items up for bid this year include many personalized pieces of furniture, such as a wooden bench and foot stools, decorative mirrors and night stands. There are also bird houses and feeders, a quilt, a refinished and decorated guitar, painted canvases, and many photography-inspired works of art.

Student art exhibition

Any projects created by the students are always in demand, which has led to a new feature for the Winter Festival, the Student Art Exhibition.

Students are able to create art in their choice of format, including but not limited to drawing, painting, photography, woodwork, glasswork, pottery and submit the art for auction. All artwork will be sold to the highest bid, and as an added incentive, each student will receive 10 percent of the selling price of his/her art.

General store, other activities

The general store will once again be offering various homemade cakes, pies, casseroles and other favorites.

There will also be toys, monogrammed bags, Christmas decorations and other hand-made items donated by GCA family and friends.

Another hit of the Winter Festival is the prize drawings.

Tickets won at the games are put into a drawing for some exciting prizes. Some of the more than 30 items offered this year include a Razr Go Cart, Basketball Shoot-Out game, an electric guitar, a coach purse, a karaoke machine, stuffed animals and more.

Students, parents and teachers have been working hard to finalize the plans for this year’s events.

Local radio station Live 101.9 will be on hand for a live remote broadcast, and there will be live music entertainment throughout the evening, featuring GCA students from K3 all the way up to high school.

An annual fund-raiser, the GCA Winter Festival hopes to raise money for classroom and playground expansion and improvements and building enhancements.

Come out and bring the family for a night of fun!