The Junior League of Washington Holiday Shops Grand Opening is an exclusive shopping event featuring crowd-favorite silent and live auctions at Dock5 at Union Market. For our 61st and final year, we will celebrate the Marvelous Memories made in the past six decades of giving back to the DC community. 

Throughout the evening, guests are invited to bid on fabulous items in the silent auction, including spa packages, unique getaways, tickets to major sporting events, and so much more. Past live auctions have featured a weekend getaway to Forbes Five-Star luxury resort Sea Island, box seats to DC sporting events, and a private Neiman Marcus shopping and makeover party, including a $1,000 shopping spree, champagne brunch for 10, makeovers, and gift bags.

Holiday Shops is proud to offer a bidding platform that can be accessed from anywhere and doesn’t require bidders to put down their drink and stop mingling in order to rebid on an item. Attendees of the Grand Opening Party and even Junior League members and supporters who don’t attend the event are able to bid on silent auction items through their smartphone by downloading the app Handbid, available for Apple and Android devices. The beauty of Handbid is that you can bid on items at any time prior to the auction closing and, even better, from any location. Bidders are notified via text or push notification when they are outbid, so you do not have to stop shopping to rebid on your must-have auction items.

What’s more, our Holiday Shops auctions provide vital support for JLW’s mission. Last year, Holiday Shops raised $26,000 exclusively from our auction – funds that impact our community partners, including 826DC, Horton’s Kids, and the Washington School for Girls.

Do you have any special connections, ideas, or talents that could amplify the auction experience? If so, please email our auctions co-chairs at HolidayShops-Auctions@jlw.org. We’re especially looking for:

• Access to unique experiences (TV show tapings, behind-the-scenes tours, etc.)

• Unique getaways or vacation homes

• Tickets to sporting, entertainment, or cultural events

• Memorabilia and original artwork

• Gift certificates to DC restaurants

Auction donations may be dropped off at the Junior League of Washington (3039 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007) on or before November 1, 2019.