The old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” best describes the heart of every yard sale. For some folk, it provides an opportunity to declutter and make a little cash from belongings no longer useful, to others it’s a chance to refine the art of a good barter. For the past 7 years, Keely Bahnmiller has been bringing wheelers and dealers together in our small town for one large yard sale! It’s a day quite a few locals look forward to and usually brings in people from surrounding towns.
There’s something special about late spring, early summer yard sales. The mornings are still crisp, where a warm cup of coffee hits just right as your heading to the sales, but then the sun starts warming up the day and the deals just get better as the clock moves closer to the end. For Keely, yard sales are “a treasure trove of unfound items waiting to be discovered.” She decided to start this event as an opportunity to facilitate multiple yard sales here in Big Sandy, so people didn’t have to drive out of town to partake in the sport. All in all, Keely dedicates around 20 hours of her time to organizing the event so it’s a success for not only the hosts, but the customers alike. On average there are around 20 yards participating, each marked on the sale map available for customers to pick up at The Grocery Store, Elevating Grains Bakery, or the Library. If you’re interested in hosting a sale, contact Keely at 406-551-0107. The $10 fee goes toward newspaper & social media advertising, and the printed maps for customers.
This year we’ve added a craft show at the Jerry Martin Memorial Hall to facilitate vendors and some of the local organizations wanting to raise money. Stop by to browse and see what these talented crafters have been making and to get an Indian Taco for lunch. If you’re interested in participating in the craft & vendor show, contact Cassie Bahnmiller at 406-399-1844. Tables are $25 each and all proceeds go toward advertising for the event.
The day is gearing up to be another bustling community event! Might as well make a day of it. Emily at the Bakery will be open for your morning cup of joe and a sweet treat from 8:30-2:30. Take a minute to walk through Craig Edwards Fine Art Gallery between 9-5 and see our beautiful landscape through a different lens. Don’t forget to stop by The Grocery Store for those items needed for dinner.
Keely would like to thank everyone in the community for supporting and participating in this event each year. What started as a simple way to host multiple yard sales has become an opportunity for local youth groups to raise funds, crafters to share their art and local businesses increased foot traffic.
So whether you’re looking to get rid of some stuff, score the deal of the century or simply just looking for something to do, we hope to see you Saturday, June 15th from 8:00-2:00.
