The students of Big Park Community School have been getting their hands dirty with paints to benefit their school.
The students’ art will be sold at the Sip and Savor auction Friday, Oct. 6, at 5:30 p.m.

Sip and Savor is the first event of Tee Up Fore Big Park, a two-part event put on by the Rotary Club of Sedona Village Satellite, will raise funds this weekend for Big Park Community School.

“We were brainstorming something different and unique to inspire parents to come,” said Heather Hermen, who is a member of the Rotary club and the vice president of the Sedona-Oak Creek School District Governing Board.

Much of the art uses images of birds, butterflies and hearts, in the spirit of peace and love — concepts that coincide well, Hermen said, with some of the qualities Big Park encourages in its students through its International Baccalaureate program.

There are seven paintings total, with most grades or combination classes contributing a piece, including a collage of kindergarteners making heart shapes with their hands, a series of painted paper butterflies by fourth and fifth graders, and birds painted with fifth and sixth graders’ fingerprints.

Also at the auction will be a two-night Jerome getaway, a Grand Canyon Pink Jeep tour for four, two first-class tickets on the Grand Canyon Railway and other items for bidding.

The evening at The Collective Sedona’s Vista Hall includes food by J Wine Bistro, wines by Chateau St. Michelle and John and Nikki Ramagli and live music. Tickets are $50.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, fundraising events continue with family-friendly activities starting at 8 a.m. at Sedona Golf Resort. Sedona Air Tours will present a helicopter ball drop in the afternoon, and putting contests, face painting and a free car show will be part of the fun. Barbecue foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and popsicles will also be available.

Money raised goes to support Big Park programs, but is also donated to the Imagination Library, which provides a free book every month to children age 5 and under.

“It’s a lot of hard work, but I think it’s really going to be worth it,” Hermen said.

For more information and to buy tickets for the auction or golf balls for Saturday’s ball drop, visit teambigpark.com.