'SANTAS IN THE BARN': Props from holiday reality show up for auction
<p><strong>Items including</strong> Santas sleigh from the reality show competition “Santas in the Barn” are up for auction online through Gardner Auction through Monday. Episodes of the show, which appears Wednesdays and Thursdays on truTV, were filmed around the Flathead Valley. (Photo by Jeremy Freeman)</p>
<p><strong>Snow globes</strong> and nutcrackers are just a few of the items from the set of truTV's "Santas in the Barn," that will be auctioned at Gardners. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
’Tis the season to decorate for Christmas and Monday is the deadline to snap up props — even Santa’s chair and sleigh — used on set in a new reality television series called “Santas in the Barn.”
“Santas in the Barn” is described as the “ultimate Christmas competition” in search of the nation’s best Santa. The items are up for auction online and may be previewed between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Gardner Auction Service, 3100 U.S. 93, Kalispell.
Gardner Auction obtained the items after “Santas in the Barn” filming wrapped up in locations around the Flathead Valley such as downtown Whitefish and Avalanche Ranch east of Kalispell.
“There is a bit of everything,” said Gardner Auction Service General Manager Todd Gardner. “There is home decor. We have a 14-foot tree, glassware, life-sized nutcrackers, lanterns, we have hundreds of tubfuls of lights and hanging decorations. We even have Santa’s chair in here. We have a semi-load of snow blankets and there is a little train system that could transport kids around in it, or elves.”
There are also non-Christmas items such as office supplies, tools and furniture. The online-only auction will start to close with the first lot at 5 p.m. Monday.
Eversong, a subset of Valley Voices Community Choir, made an appearance on the show singing Christmas carols.
“We performed for two episodes,” said Valley Voices President Sylvie Wood. “It was fun. We were up in a balcony with the contestants below.”
“Santas in the Barn” appears on truTV at 9 p.m. Eastern time Wednesdays and Thursdays ending with a Christmas Eve finale.
In each episode, contestants face challenges showcasing their holiday skills, from chimney climbing, gift wrapping and sleigh riding to gingerbread-house building, vying for a chance to win $100,000, a donation to a charity of choice and the title of America’s “best Santa.”
To bid on the auction, visit www.gardnerauction.com. For more information about the show visit www.trutv.com.
Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.