World's Widest Yard Sale Spreads Across Alabama This Weekend

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By Heather VacLav

Story Created: May 31, 2012 at 6:29 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 31, 2012 at 9:46 PM CDT

Everyone loves a good bargain, and Alabamians are in luck. It isn't like your typical garage sale, it is quite literally, the World's Widest Yard Sale.

 

Sale sites are spread along the width of the state, along U.S. Highway 80, Thursday May 31-Saturday June 2.

 

Bargain shoppers lined the tunnel inside Montgomery’s site at Cramton Bowl, sifting through gently used and newer home goods, clothing and antiques.

 

“It’s just so much history that's associated with this trail, and people put this thing all the way across Highway 80,” said Ray Scott, a member of the Board of Directors for the Black Belt Commission.

 

The Yard Sale stretches from Phenix City to the far west Alabama in the town of Cuba and people from across the state drove to Montgomery to shop.

 

“Its like going to the mall, but cheaper and friendlier,” said Brittany Hurley, she drove to Montgomery for the sale from Highland Home.

 

“I think it’s really neat, it’s a really good opportunity for people to come out and make some money,” said Janice Duncan of Montgomery. Duncan and her sister were selling books at the Cramton Bowl.

 

The Black Belt Commission with Alabama’s Rural Development office came up with the idea for the sale after visiting the Longest Yard Sale, an event that reaches from Gadsden to Hudson, Michigan. The commission says this sale is not just designed to help people clean out their homes, but to help lower income unemployed families in the black belt.

    

“This is an opportunity for them to make some money and put it in their pockets and they can go ahead and buy groceries or whatever they want to buy,” said Emily Law, Executive Director with the Black Belt Commission. “So we're stimulating the economy by doing this.”

 

While Cramton Bowl is serving as a primary site in the River Region, other vendors are setting up shop along Highway 80.

 

“I'm trying to clean out my house and this was a great opportunity, because over in Hayneville they charge you to have a yard sale if you have it in the city,” said Carol Fryer of Hayneville.

 

The World's Widest Yard Sale is peaking interest in other neighboring states, too, and the Black Belt Commission expects Georgia to be on board next year.

 

“We hope to expand this all across the United States,” said Law.

 

The Cramton Bowl and other sites will be open through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.

 

Saturday, the Pike Road community will also join the World's Widest Yard Sale at their town hall from 7 a.m. to noon, about 40 vendors are expected.

 

 

 

 

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