From left, Patty Carratello, Phyllis Brown and Debi Norton serve spaghetti, salad and garlic bread to hungry customers during the 2014 annual Soroptimist International of Idyllwild Basket Festival and Spaghetti Dinner. Photo by Jenny Kirchner
From left, Patty Carratello, Phyllis Brown and Debi Norton serve spaghetti, salad and garlic bread to hungry customers during the 2014 annual Soroptimist International of Idyllwild Basket Festival and Spaghetti Dinner. Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Soroptimist International of Idyllwild, a longstanding and respected Idyllwild volunteer organization, holds its annual Basket Festival, spaghetti dinner and fundraiser on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Soroptimist supports a number of programs that improve the lives of women and girls both globally and locally — Soroptimist House of Hope, a women’s rehabilitation center; an Alternatives to Domestic Violence organization; the ongoing fight against human trafficking; a Christmas Love Train that provides local needy children with new clothes, food and toys; and the Women’s Cabinet at the Idyllwild Help Center that provides personal hygiene items for low-income local women of all ages.

The Basket Festival offers attendees a complimentary spaghetti dinner, salad and ice cream, and chances to win beautiful and valuable decorated baskets, some valued at more than $1,000 worth of gifts and experiences — four tickets to Disneyland, three days and two nights in Laughlin, a $500 gift certificate to Pechanga Hotel and Resort, gift certificates to most Idyllwild restaurants, a kid’s bike from Hub Cyclery, a Mountain Folk basket with camping supplies and much more.

Support of the festival, held at Buckhorn Camp, and general support from the community allow local Soroptimists to give monetary awards and scholarships to head-of-household women returning to school and to girls who demonstrate selfless community and school volunteerism. Last year the club awarded $4,000 in scholarships and more than $5,000 to above-named organizations and projects.

The event begins at 5 p.m. and, starting at 5:15 p.m., a door prize is awarded every 15 minutes until basket winners are announced at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is free and open to all. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20.

Buckhorn Camp is located at 24641 Highway 243. Meat and vegetarian spaghetti will be served.