If you find yourself looking for a fun and interesting way to spend a June weekend in the Bitterroot Valley, don’t miss the annual Bitterroot 50 Mile Garage Sale on June 23-24. This event is celebrating its third year, and has matured into a well-attended tradition.
From Lolo to Darby, a stretch of 50 miles, there will be 250 sellers, vendors, and businesses offering antiques, collectibles, vintage items, and standard garage sale goods for your review and purchase. Patterned after similar “linear sales” or “progressive sales” common to southeastern states, the Bitterroot 50 Mile Garage Sale stretches along the scenic Bitterroot Valley and will no doubt allow shoppers to visit places they have not seen and find unique and sought after items in shops, businesses, “Hot Spots”, and at individual family homes.
According to Gary Garthwait, one of the sale coordinators, if you wish to participate as a seller, there are many options as well. You can join one of the Hot Spots along the route, which are businesses that offer their own merchandise for sale, but that also encourage sellers to join with them in their respective locations. Because of the numbers of sellers signed up to bring their wares to the business property, there will be many buyers stopping there to find their treasures and deals.
There is also an opportunity to have your own personal garage sale listed on the Bitterroot 50 Mile Garage Sale web site map. Both those who join a Hot Spot and those who choose to have their own garage sales will be listed on the map once they sign up online at www.bitterroot50milegaragesale.com.
The cost for hosting a sale varies depending upon what type of sale you are planning. Details are available at the website. With this registration fee, sellers are not only listed on the online map, but receive a Bitterroot 50 Mile Garage Sale official sign that guides buyers to their sale.
Last year, 250 vendors and sellers participated, which made for a huge inventory of antiques, vintage and collectible items, and garage sale goods for buyers to choose from. People from at least 15 states and Canada attended the sale, and expectations for a similar level of participation by both buyers and sellers are high. The sale had a very significant economic impact on the Bitterroot Valley the last two years, as not only were there many treasures and bargains bought and sold, but hotels, gas stations, other businesses, and restaurants were very busy providing services to those who attended, said Garthwait.
A wide variety of items will be available, and because of the number of sellers participating, it is recommended that buyers plan their day or days at the sale. It is advisable to use the online map available at www.bitterroot50milegaragesale.com to plan your route. Bring bags, boxes, your money, a GPS, and even a trailer to load up your purchases. It is also a good idea to bring your enthusiasm for searching for items you know you want, says Garthwait, as well as for those you didn’t know you were looking for. A sense of discovery and community will help to make the days a regular event of your summer.
Think of the possible weather conditions. Organizers and those who have attended the last two years remember that the first year brought 90+ degrees, and the second year brought high winds that blew event tents across the parking lots of Hot Spots. Perhaps the third year weather will be somewhere in between, making it easy for shoppers to enjoy the days.
Be prepared for a wide range of prices, as antique sellers will have quality, unique and valuable items for sale, and other sellers will have assembled items at traditional garage sale prices, according to Garthwait. Many of those who have been planning for this weekend have been collecting items during the past year, and have sought out items of value and interest. Remember that some buyers will be looking for items they can resale at their antique businesses outside of the valley and in other states, he said. They will be aggressively seeking out items that match the interests of the customers in their areas, so remember the saying often found in antique shops that says, “The item you were looking at yesterday was bought by someone today who knew how happy they would be tomorrow that they didn’t hesitate.” It is recommended that you not wait to purchase what you like, although organizers understand how much there will be to look at during the two days.
“For those of you who like ‘the search’ for treasures, consider how many weekends of garage sales and antique browsing would have to take place in order to equal the number of garage sales and Hot Spots waiting for you to visit in just one weekend,” said Garthwait.
Look for the complete 50 Mile Garage Sale map in next week’s Bitterroot Star or click on the logo at right to go to the website.