Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Highway 25 - The days on the calendar are flying by and we are getting closer and closer to the famous 100 Mile Yard Sale. The 15th annual event will begin on Friday, May 24th and will end on Sunday, May 27th. Drivers, tourists, and locals will be seeing plenty of tables, tents, and people during that busy weekend along Highway 25, stretching all the way from Jackson down south to Kennett.
Although we are accustomed to the busy traffic and crowds of people, the Missouri Department of Transportation reported that the traffic and business of the local area increases by about 50% during Saturday on Memorial Day weekend and about 30% on Friday. The flow of people is predicted to be heavy this year, just like the many years before.
Some refer to the yard sale as “100 Miles Worth of Bargains”. In fact, there are so many things to see and buy along the way while driving through the stretch of towns and miles. Some of these towns include: Delta, Bernie, Advance, Bloomfield, Dexter, Malden, Clarkton, Holcomb, and of course Kennett and Jackson. The multiple booths that are set up along the way have a wide variety of items available for purchase. Many booths may have homemade arts and crafts, antiques, furniture, collectibles, clothes, toys, and so much more.
The event is sponsored by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, and the Kennett Chamber of Commerce. There is some land eligible for booths or tents that are still available. Many local establishments and businesses are offering spots for tents and sellers for a small fee. To find out more information on setting up a tent of your own and where to do it, you can contact the Dexter Chamber of Commerce at 573-624-7458.
There is no certain time that the event starts but certain booths or tables will be open when the owners arrive, certain booths owned by homeowners will be opened on late Thursday before the yard sale officially begins. There is also no admission fee to participate in the yard sale. People that may be driving on Highway 25 are encouraged to stay alert and drive slower than the speed limit signs that are posted. The goal of the weekend is to keep people safe and to have fun.
This historical event started in 1999 and has grown tremendously every year. Memorial Day Weekend is a hotspot for tourists who sometimes travel from Arkansas and Tennessee to participate in the bargain shopping. This whirlwind of people sometimes disrupts the lives of the locals, but has been managed fairly well in the past couple of years.
Many of the yard sale participants break their weekend up into two different pieces. They will travel as far south as they can on the first day and then travel the rest of the way the next. Throughout the weekend, many of the people are in need of places to rest that sell food or have bathrooms open for use. Some local businesses and churches along the route will offer these necessities.
With thousands of people participating in the weekend, it is always a great success. People from all over the region love to be a part of such a big event. Many bargains are made throughout the weekend and as soon as the yard sale ends on Sunday, some people will already be preparing for next year’s. For people who want to get rid of clutter and extra items around their homes, the 100 Mile Yard Sale is always a great opportunity. This may be why it is such a popular event for both sellers and buyers.
