CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Saturday will mark 25 years since the state’s largest yard sale began in Charleston.
The city’s East End will host the event from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, over 120 sellers registered for one of the largest community yard sales on the East Coast.
“You can get some really great deals,” said Les Wilkerson, president of East End Community Association, the group organizing the event. “Antiques, clothing, furniture, even vehicles people put out. It’s amazing.”
People from all over the tri-state area will attend the block party type event, sponsored by Old Colony Realtors. Wilkerson said it’s become a “national draw.”
Ric Cavender, executive director of Charleston Main Streets and co-host of the yard sale, said they will be providing live music for the first time called “Old Colony Corners,” in honor of the 25th anniversary.
Mike Pushkin, House of Delegates member and member of the American Federation of Musicians Local union, will be performing with his friends on different street corners throughout the East End from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It’s a great time to celebrate and be proud of the neighborhood, but even more so it’s a great time to see all the folks out networking and talking. It becomes a social event as well,” said Cavender.
Cavender said the yard sale also draws outsiders into Charleston to experience the city’s rich history.
“While it is really centered to the neighborhood, it doesn’t have as much of a business focus as the rest of our events do throughout the year. It brings thousands of people in that may not come into Charleston that often,” he said.
Sellers paid a registration fee of $10. That money will go toward improving parts of the city, purchasing playground equipment, providing community picnics, and hold community meetings to provide information that is important to Charleston.
During the event, part of Elizabeth Street will be closed.