The annual opportunity for dessert gourmets on South Whidbey arrives this Saturday.

The Young Skandia Dansers are again presenting their fund-raising dinner and auction called A Sweet Taste of Whidbey.

Twenty-five bakeries, restaurants and confectioners will bring their best to the event, where guests with a passion for pastries will bid for the honor of taking them home.

The dinner and auction, set for March 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the CM&A Church in Langley, raises funds for the Young Skandia Dansers, a group of young people who have revived the centuries-old dances and costumes of Scandinavia as they were brought to this country and nurtured by America’s new citizens.

It has been an extremely successful benefit in its first three years.

“We’ve been sold out every year,” said Linda Spencer, the auction organizer and a member of the Ester Moe Daughters of Norway.

Those who are lucky enough to get a ticket will be treated first to a light dinner prepared by the Ester Moe Daughters of Norway and friends.

“Spike Schwald will cook up split pea soup and salmon chowder, made with salmon donated by Stephen and Gretchen Lee,” Spencer said. “And the Daughters will make their famous Scandinavian open faced sandwiches.”

Guests will be able to preview the desserts that are up for bid, and the string music of The Island Chamber Orchestra will play Norwegian and Swedish tunes during dinner, and will also accompany the Young Skandia Dansers when they perform songs and folk dances from Scandinavia as part of the evening’s entertainment. There will be more music by Karl and Vern Olsen and Deb Lund.

The auction will be emceed again by Sue Frause, herself a Daughter of Norway. It promises to be a lively event.

“We have 25 desserts from restaurants, bakeries and other sources,” Spencer said. “Every year the different tables compete with one another and bid up the prices on the desserts.”

Profits from the Sweet Taste of Whidbey will support the Young Skandia Dansers, a group of 24 dancers ages 5 to 12 now in its fifth year. Dances are taught by junior Elise Spencer, and Linda Spencer teaches the songs.

The dinner and auction is the only fund-raiser of the year for the Dansers with money going toward camp, scholarship and special teachers.

“It is also a way for the dancers to share their talent and for the community to participate in Scandinavian culture,” Spencer said.