The aptly named 2026 Snow Ball indeed had snow on the ground in the Christmas City for its gala night. Some season-appropriate fur wraps were spotted as ladies exited their cars pulled up to the doors of the Wind Creek Hotel collocated with the Wind Creek Casino.

The evening’s festive atmosphere was a production of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber Commerce, the sixth largest chamber in the United States.

Since 1989, the chamber has been organizing the annual Snow Ball and silent auction to the Lehigh Valley business community benefiting various local nonprofit organizations. Over time, the Snow Ball auction has contributed more than $700,000 to those nonprofits.

The celebrants mixed pleasure with the serious business of raising money for Second Harvest Food Bank, a subsidiary of Community Action Committee Lehigh Valley.

Author and actor Jacinth Headlam hosted the event. She has received several awards for her work as an actor, author, QVC TV model and film producer.

“I’m still on cloud nine from hosting the 2026 Snow Ball Gala with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber,” Headlam said after the event. “It was also my first time attending. The energy was off-the-chart-phenomenal.

“The elegance, the love in the room, the auction moments, the dancing, the donations, the connections. Everything was amazing. And being part of an evening supporting Community Action [Committee] Lehigh Valley and Second Harvest Food Bank made it even more meaningful.

“I’m grateful for the trust, the experience, and the impact. Here’s to more rooms like this and more legacy-building nights.

The exact amount raised by the silent auction and other sources was not disclosed.

Tony and Wendy Iannelli welcomed the guests to the gala evening. Tony Iannelli has been president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce since 1997.

Paige Nicholas and Gina Martens introduced sponsors.

Community Action Committee Lehigh Valley’s Dawn Godshall introduced the beneficiaries of the live auction and the silent auction.

Auctioneers for the fundraiser were Vicki Doule of Capital Blue Cross and Craig Stevens of iHeart Media.

Dance music was by Lehigh Valley Events and Productions LLC. The music was sponsored by the King Spry Law Firm.

According to organizers, almost 400 guests attended.