The American Red Cross raised thousands of dollars for its local programs Friday at a fun-filled, sold-out fundraiser.

The Suffolk chapter sold 220 tickets for Paint the Town Red. The event featured silent and live auctions, raffles, drawings, a sit-down dinner, musical entertainment and entertainment of another kind — a group of celebrity waiters who were willing to do almost anything for a tip.

“I told them they can do anything as long as it’s legal,” said Faye Byrum, executive director of the Suffolk chapter of the American Red Cross. “The waiters will wait their tables, but only after they get a tip.”

The celebrity waiters included local elected officials, radio station disc jockeys, prominent business owners and more. They performed silly tricks and waiter challenges all night to raise money for the Red Cross.

The money goes to fund Red Cross programs and services in the city, including both small- and large-scale disaster relief, blood drives, CPR and babysitter training and more.

“Any money raised here will stay here,” Byrum said.

The event also marked a milestone for the Suffolk chapter of the American Red Cross.

“For the very first year in 13 years, we’re sold out,” Byrum said.

Besides tipping their waiters for crazy antics, attendees got the chance to bid on dozens of auction items, buy paint sticks from their waiters to win prizes and enjoy entertainment by “A Touch of Spice.”

“We try to make this a really fun evening for everybody,” Byrum said. “This is our signature fundraising event for the year.”

For more information on the Suffolk chapter of the American Red Cross, call 539-6645 or visit www.suffolkredcross.org.