The bids will be flying Saturday night at the Humane Society of Beaufort County’s 22^nd-annual auction.

Set for 6 p.m. at the Washington Civic Center, the event is one of HSBC’s main fundraisers for the year. Over the past two decades, the auction has gained quite a following, according to Marty Poffenberger, local veterinarian and president of HSBC.

“It’s kind of one of those things that people now look forward to because it’s become such a tradition,” Poffenberger said.

Starting with food and a silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by returning auctioneer Doug Boyd calling the live auction at 7 p.m., tickets are $35 per individual, but tables of 10 are sold for $300 — a $50 discount. As with every year, auction items are both large and small, Poffenberger said.

In past years, the auction has netted upward of $20,000, an amount that applied to a program intended to keep animal populations down, and therefore out of the shelter.

“As always, the money goes toward spay and neuter. We assist with the spay and neuter program at the shelter,” Poffenberger said. “We’re actually seeing the numbers getting better at the shelter — less intakes, more adoptions — and that can be attributed to the program.”

The Washington Civic Center is located at 110 Gladden Street. Tickets can be reserved by calling 252-945-1223 or can be purchased at the door on Saturday night.