Denizens of the Camellia City painted the town in hues of purple, green and gold last Saturday night – and it was all for a good cause.

The Greenville Area Arts Council (GAAC) presented its Annual Mardi Gras Gala and Silent Auction at the Cambrian Ridge Clubhouse. The goal for the glittering evening was to raise funds for the Ritz Theatre Restoration Fund.

A number of attendees truly entered into the Mardi Gras spirit, wearing colorful feathered and sequined masks, while others sported comical jester hats, derbies, beads and fluffy feather boas. It was all in the spirit of celebration and revelry as arts supporters &uot;Let the good times roll.&uot;

Attendees enjoyed an array of crudits, fresh fruit and spicy appetizers as they listened to live music and browsed among over 220 items on display for the silent auction. Many placed bids on items they hoped to take home &uot;for a song&uot;.

Antique jewelry, luxurious furs and fur accessories, fine art prints, original oil paintings and much more were offered alongside a variety of gift baskets, restaurant vouchers and store certificates. Bidders also had the chance to get services such as golf or tennis lessons at bargain prices.

John Hall hoped to have the winning bid on one of the genuine mink bears from Henig Furs.

&uot;I think that one is in my ballpark,&uot; he said with a grin.

Jo Weitman, like many others, had fun trying on the fur coats, an inviting refuge on a cold night.

&uot;Oh, take my picture and I’ll send it to my kids,&uot; she said as she struck a pose.

Without a doubt, the biggest draw of the evening was the opportunity to bid on a week in a mountain lodge, an item donated to the fundraiser by Fred and Marcia Lindstrom.

&uot;It was so gracious of the Lindstroms to offer their mountain home to us, no strings attached. It certainly proved to be a very popular item,&uot; said the GAAC’s Roberta Gamble on Monday.

While the totals weren’t in at press time for monies raised, Gamble said she felt the evening was a &uot;success&uot;.

&uot;We’ll have all the figures tallied and we’ll know what we netted at our next[GAAC] meeting – but right now, things look good,&uot; she explained. &uot;We are so grateful to everyone for their contributions to, and their participation in, our gala and auction. Our restoration project still has a long way to go and we truly appreciate the support of this community,&uot; Gamble said.

The final performance of the GAAC season will be the hit musical ‘Barry Manilow’s Copacabana,’ scheduled for March.