Strawberry Festival silent auction block to feature Father Christmas

When Boca Grande residents and visitors think of spring, they think of the Strawberry Festival. This year it will be held on Saturday, March 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a bargain sale, a wine grab, and much more. Including, of course, strawberry shortcake.

One of the favorite events at the festival is the silent auction. One of the items featured this year is a Father Christmas donated by Lynda Jamison, by the artist John Mitchell, who is also president of the Boca Grande Art Alliance. For anyone who has been to a Boca Grande Art Alliance show, it’s well-known that these figures, which stand a little over two feet tall, are amazingly done and in demand.

John said he started making the figures after having quadruple bypass surgery in 1993.

“I decided I needed something to do,” he said. “So my wife, Gloria, found me a Santa to paint. I was done with that in two days, and then started reading about the history of Santa. It was then I stumbled on Father Christmas, who in the 15th century was a real person.”

The Father Christmas donated by Jamison was the first free-standing figure that John made. His cane is cut from a plant on the Mitchell property. His coat is from a worn, vintage blanket. He used coyote fur as trimming.

The auction will take place all day long, and toward the end of the Strawberry Festival the winners will be announced.

Keep watching the Boca Beacon each week for more auction items and information.