BUCKHANNON – It’s almost time to bag a bargain at biggest yard sale in the area!
That’s right – in less than two weeks, folks from all across West Virginia and surrounding states will converge on the area for West Virginia’s Largest Yard Sale 2019. And happily, Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Laura Meadows said this year changes have made getting ready for the sale – and attending it – easier than ever.
“We have changed a few things up for the 2019 WV’s Largest Yard Sale,” Meadows said. “We have created a free registration, which is nice for local people. They do not have to pay a $10 registration anymore.”
Another great feature of the sale, which will be Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in Upshur and Lewis counties, is this year, sellers can register online.
“Online registration is super simple and quick,” Meadows said, “and we will still have paper copies of the registration for people who want to do that.”
West Virginia’s Largest Yard Sale is an annual event sponsored by the Upshur County CVB and has been going on for more than 20 years. Meadows said they haven’t been able to definitively track down exactly which year the sale began, but she estimated it’s been at least two decades.
“It has been really popular,” Meadows said. “I thought it would slow once online yard sales on Facebook became so trendy, but it really hasn’t. I think the reason is, people enjoy the activity of attending yard sales. It’s not just about finding stuff, but it’s an activity or an attraction for people to do. It is really fun to see people coming through and signing up to sell.”
Meadows said anyone who wants to be listed on the official map as a yard sale site can do so online at https://visitbuckhannon.org/yardsale or by stopping by the Upshur County CVB Office located at 14 East Main St. in Buckhannon or by calling and requesting the paperwork at 304-473-1400.
“We always joke that for every yard sale that is registered, there are two or three more out there that are not registered or on the map,” Meadows said, laughing. “It is really a huge event – there are hundreds upon hundreds of yard sales to attend.”
Meadows said the online map will show all of those who registered to participate and will include directions to each location as well as the top five items each location lists they are selling. Some items for sale listed on the website during this year’s event include antiques, an old wooden sleigh, toys and Pfaltzgraff dishes.
Along with the online map, Meadows said there will also be copies of a printed map of the yard sale locations.
“In the past, we have had a couple hundred places set up for yard sales,” Meadows said. “This year, we have 123 locations, so I think we will easily hit more than 150 different yard sales.”
Meadows advised anyone planning on perusing yard sales to consider making a weekend trip out of the event.
“We hope as folks finish up their yard sale shopping on Friday, they will join us at Jawbone Park for Festival Fridays,” she said. “If people are making this a longer weekend, we hope they will come out for the Historical Society Museum Exhibit on Sunday.”
This year’s registration is donation-based.
“Please use the time to explore the Buckhannon area,” she suggested. “If it’s super hot, visit Audra State Park to cool down. If you want to take in a nice walk, visit the West Virginia Wildlife Center. Definitely, eat at one of our local restaurants because you are going to be walking around and working up a good appetite, and we have great options.”
So, grab your wish list, floppy hat, sunscreen, map and money – and head out to grab all the bargains offered at this year’s West Virginia’s Largest Yard Sale!
