Going once! Going twice! Gone!

Those can be words of exhilaration or words of woe for those who enjoy the fun and excitement of an auction.

Today there will be a scramble to bid for more than 175 items on the silent auction block at the Johnson Center for the Arts and later tonight at the dinner and live auction at The Studio.

Both events are fundraisers for the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center. The silent auction is open to the public from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. today. Bidding may be done on site or the items may be viewed on facebook.com/johnsoncenterforthearts and bids phoned in to 334-670-2287.

A few tickets are still available for the dinner and live auction at 7 o’clock tonight. The tickets are $50 each and may be purchased at the Johnson Center.

“Usually at a silent auction, people will wait until near the closing time to start their bidding in hopes of getting the bid,” said Morgan Drinkard, Johnson Center director. “So, in addition to participating in the silent bidding, we have a ‘buy now’ option. The items will be priced ‘to go.’ Those who want to pay that price can take the item out the door.”

Drinkard said the silent auction features everything from five dollar stocking stuffers to designer clothing and artwork by noted artists.

“We have clothing from Judith March Fashions, artwork from Mose T., Charlie Lucas, Margo Russell, Mary Ann Casey, Walter Black, Russell Everette, Wally Lowery and Deedie Carter.”

Drinkard said vacation packages are popular items and the silent auction features several golf packages including four rounds of golf at the Robert Trent Jones golf course at Prattville and a two-night hotel stay.

“We also have golf packages at three Montgomery golf courses and two in Dothan,” Drinkard said. “We have other items that any golfer would love to have.”

A couple of other vacation packages are a day at Lake Simmie and a weekend at Lake Martin.

Gift certificates are also popular items and local restaurants have items up for auction. Mikata’s, Santa Fe, the Half-Shell, Milky Moos, the Huddle House and Hook’s Barbecue to name a few.

The silent auction offers a variety of items that includes a four-place setting of Christmas china, designer handbags, Marilyn Monroe snack plates, Chinese miniature kites and scrolls, floral arrangements, jewelry, watches, books, Christmas ornaments, decorator baskets and dozens of other items.

Douglas Bros. will have a jewelry showcase of discounted new pieces for sale.

“A portion of those sales will be donated to the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center,” Drinkard said.

The live auction will feature about 15 items that include casseroles of the month from Sweet and Savory, jewelry items, men’s outfits from Cotton Creek, a week at Gulf Shores, a weekend at Rosemary Beach, a Kenny Campbell fishing trip and a skybox at a Troy University football game.

Admission to the live auction is included with a dinner ticket.