By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
This weekend, shoppers are expected to come to Lookout Mountain Parkway for the 27th annual World’s Longest Yard Sale. The yard sale started on August 6, and will continue through August 9.
The sale was first started in 1987 to demonstrate the usefulness and beauty of back roads and attract visitors to lesser known areas.
The plan worked, attracting thousands of people from all over.
The yard sale originated in Fentress County, Tenn. Now, it includes 690 miles of bargain hunting, and passes through six states.
The sale follows U.S. 127 from just north of Addison, Mich., to Chattanooga, Tenn. From there, the sale moves to Lookout Mountain Parkway and continues to Gadsden.
Judging from last year’s selections, shoppers will be able to find just about anything, from kayaks to metalwork animal yard decorations.
Vendors rent a spot along the route, and often sell specialty items, like body jewelry or candles.
“People are looking for all kinds of stuff, anything special or different,” said Teresa Garmony at last year’s yard sale. “I’ve even had people try to buy my little piercing man.”
She gestured to a Tiki man face she had drilled holes into to display her jewelry that was actually purchased at a yard sale.
“But people are usually looking for stuff that you have around the house,” continued Garmony, a vendor from Rainbow City.
According to Garmony, there is some profit in the weekend, though it is unlikely that a seller makes a lot of money.
“I pushed $4000 worth of merchandise up there. I took home $58. I have never sold so much stuff for a nickel, dime, or quarter in my life,” said Gadsden City Councilman Ben Reed last year.
The appeal of the sale to sellers is more about the unique experience than the profits.
“My favorite part of the wholesale is meeting people,” said Garmony. “I love to meet people and talk to peopl.,”
“I met people from California and Wisconsin,” said Reed.
Last year, there was some concern about traffic from the shoppers coinciding with the start of school.
This year the yard sale will end the day before the start of school.