Dowagiac's 6th Annual Garage Sale Weekend!! May 16th and 17th
DOWAGIAC - Bigger than summer sidewalk sales, Dowagiac’s Community-wide Garage Sale Weekend kicks off Friday, May 16, at 8 a.m., as one of the largest selling and buying frenzies gets underway at more than 57 host sites in and adjacent to the city.
Sponsored by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the weekend promotion, which is now in its sixth year, also includes downtown sales. While a vast majority of the residential sales for the weekend promotion are located within the city limits, garage sales are also being held adjacent to the community at Sister Lakes, Indian Lake, and off Middle Crossing, Marcellus Highway, M-51 South and M-62 East.
Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Chamber of Commerce and DDA, said this year’s promotion features an estate sale on M-51 South of general household items, furniture, antiques and collectibles. Must-see stops also include the multi-family sales at the Apostolic Lighthouse Church, ACTION, Cedar Sands Apartments and First United Methodist Church, which is having a bake sale.
New this year, the American Legion on North Orchard Street has opened its parking lot to out-of-town vendors, as American Legion members are selling merchandise inside as a fundraiser for the post. Fourteen vendors from such areas as Kalamazoo, Granger and southern Indiana will be setting up their wares within the parking lot.
Classified advertising for the promotion, which began appearing in printed publications last weekend, will publish in 12 newspapers and shopper guides this week, including each of The Leader’s publications, the Herald Palladium, South Bend Tribune, Paw Paw Flashes and Tradelines.
Phillipson said the vast amount of advertising is what sets this promotion apart from the lone garage sale a resident may have by themself. “While the registration fee to be involved in the promotion was only $8, when you combine the resources of 57 individuals and groups, we can certainly spread the word much further that Dowagiac is the place to be this weekend.”
As soon as the Buyer’s Guides were printed and assembled, shoppers began picking them up at the Chamber of Commerce and at our eight distribution sites downtown. Specialty shops that serve as distribution sites for the Buyer’s Guides are also hosting inside specials or sidewalk sales.
Buyers’ Guides and maps, available for $1 each, can be purchased at Dowagiac Vacuum Center, Front Street Crossing, The Hairitage, Mud-Luscious, RUsT, Shabby Bou-Chic, Tipsy Gypsy and Vincent J. Jewelers.
The Buyer’s Guide, which includes a map, also provides detailed information on the type of merchandise each sale features, along with the day and time of operation. Phillipson said while this is an advertised two-day sale of Friday and Saturday, some sites are opening Thursday, while others plan to run through Sunday.
“When bargain hunters hit the streets, they’re likely to find an additional eight to 10 residential sales, in addition to the 57 that registered with us,” Phillipson said. “Following our print deadline, we continued to receive inquiries. Those folks who missed the deadline to have their information included in the Buyer’s Guide were encouraged to proceed with their sale by taking out the normal garage sale permit through the City.”
The City waived the permit fee for residents who signed up to participate in the promotion through the Chamber of Commerce and DDA, and contributed $8 toward the paid classified advertising that was purchased to promote the event.
While shoppers will find typical garage sale items by the hundreds including children’s clothing, general household, furniture and sporting goods, many sales will also feature estate items, and antiques and collectibles.
