SOAP LAKE — A little town got to show off big time, as local folks turned out for the annual Soap Lake Chamber Dinner and Auction Saturday night.

The attendance was significantly more than last year, said chamber vice president Kat Sanderson. The event sold out – for the first time in its history – and an extra had to be added to accommodate a few extra. In all, 60 people gathered at the Gate 17 Event Center to enjoy dinner and music and support the chamber.

The music was provided by the Fabulous Basin Boys, whose jazzy strains laid an undertone to the party, which started with hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar, along with lots of socializing.

Dinner was provided by the Gate 17 staff and featured rosemary garlic chicken in asiago sauce, a dish created by Gate 17 owner Cindy Rang especially for the occasion. It was accompanied by a raspberry walnut salad, roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus, and topped off with 12 different desserts.

“The desserts were spectacular,” said Sanderson. “I’ve never eaten so much strawberry cheesecake in my life.”

The evening finished up with a live auction with Ken Greene as auctioneer, and an awards ceremony. Citizen of the Year was Melanie Beck, and Business of the Year went to Daisy Street Car Wash.

The Community Service Award was presented to a group known locally as the Bathroom Mob. Headed up by John Carlson, the group of volunteers worked with mayor Raymond Gravelle and the city’s public works public works department to clean and repaint the public restrooms in Soap Lake’s parks, inside and out.

This was the first year the event has been held at Gate 17, Sanderson said. “(Rang) is usually booked solid, but she donated that evening for us.” Tables and decorations were handled by Robert Salmon and John Martin.

An exact dollar figure on the money raised wasn’t available at press time, but Sanderson said the number was well over the $5,000 that had been projected.

“It was really nice to see Soap Lake sparkle,” she said.