Holiday season begins in Keystone

About 75 people filled the gym at Keystone Community Center for the annual Turkey Bingo event.

“It's a great opportunity for the community to come together for a good cause,” said Cassandra Ott, who was one of the evening’s bingo hosts.

The event included food, 16 rounds of bingo with either ham or turkey prize and a bonus round where the winner received a foosball table. The Holy Smoke Resort donated the hams while the Powder House Lodge donated the turkeys. 

All money generated from the event benefit the youth fund of Keystone.

“We appreciate all the money for the summer reading program and snacks,” said Keystone librarian Robin Scott, who hosts numerous activities throughout the year for the children in town. 

Turkey Bingo followed the Victorian Christmas held earlier in the day. The annual craft fair featured a silent auction in addition to the festival of trees and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“It’s always nice to be in a small town where people come together to do this sort of thing,” said Keystone Senior Center director Mackenzie Swanson. 

Auction prizes were donated by various local businesses including the town’s public works department who crafted tables, chairs and benches.

“Everything was made from repurposed items,” said Jerry Przybylski, superintendent of public works for Keystone. “The phone company gave us the spools, the pipes came out of the museum from when we worked on it and the dragon heads came from the iron pile.”

The dragonhead bench was auctioned for $200. The proceeds from Victorian Christmas benefit Keystone Senior Center.

The total money raised by each event was not available by press time.