Largest Yard Sale Has Something for Everyone
By BECKY WAGONER, Staff WriterFact Box
If you go
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Where: Upshur and Lewis counties
Do you like antiques, collectibles or just a plain bargain? If so, Upshur and Lewis counties is the place to be Thursday, Friday and Saturday during West Virginia's Largest Yard Sale. This three-day event, sponsored by the Buckhannon-Upshur Convention and Visitors Bureau and the city of Weston, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, rain or shine.
Currently, there are more than 100 registered sales in Upshur County, according to Lori Harvey, executive director of the Buckhannon-Upshur CVB. An additional two or three unregistered sales for every one on the map is anticipated, she said.
"Everyone is looking for a deal," Harvey said. "They are ready to go, which is great."
According to Harvey, the CVB has fielded numerous calls from the local and surrounding area in addition to inquiries from Virginia, New York, New England, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Grant monies from the West Virginia Department of Tourism for advertising has really assisted in getting the word out, she said.
"This is a tourism event that directly benefits the citizens," she said. "This is the first year Weston has participated in the annual event. We want to welcome Lewis County and look forward to working with them in the future."
Currently, there are 21 registered sales in Lewis County but additional ones are expected, according to Kristin Droppleman, clerk for the city of Weston.
"We plan to participate in the event for years to come," Droppleman said. "We felt this was something that would bring monies into the community as well as promote tourism in Weston."
One of the registered yard sales in Lewis County is that of Mayor Julia Spelsberg.
"Participating in this event is something that I feel we should have been doing for years," she said. "This is something that will bring people into Lewis County and promote the area."
Several families and organizations participate each year and the Barlow family on Arnold Avenue in Buckhannon is no exception.
"It is kind of a hobby," said John Barlow. "It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it. It is also a way to meet a lot of different people."
In addition to West Virginia's Largest Yard Sale, the Buckhannon-Upshur Retail Merchants Association will host an Appraisal Fair at the Buckhannon Moose Lodge on North Kanawha Street. Appraisals will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The fee for the verbal appraisals is $5 for the first item and $3 for each additional item.
Appraisers for the event are Patty Jenkins and Heather Eubank, from Joe R. Pyle Auctions. With more than 20 years combined experience, the pair can estimate the approximate age of an item, the materials from which it was made and other interesting facts about the item in question.
For more information on the events, call Harvey at 472-1651, ext. 124 or cvbb@ci.buckhannon.wv.us
