Yard Sale Season is Here!

One thing I love about summer (besides sunny days by the pool, the sound of the ice cream truck approaching, and the smell of a freshly mowed lawn) is that each weekend brings a new round of treasures to find. The kind of treasures that can only be discovered at a yard sale. And two great ones are coming up this weekend!

The Historic US 40 Yard Sale begins today, June 1, and runs through June 5. While Indiana doesn’t have exclusive rights to this sale (it actually stretches from Baltimore to St. Louis!), we’re home to a great stretch of this road, from Richmond west to Terre Haute. It’s organized by Patricia McDonald of The Old Storefront, an antique shop in Dublin, Indiana. On the sale’s website you’ll even find links to all the Indiana tourism bureaus found along U.S. 40 to help you plan the Hoosier-portion of your trip. The sale is open from dawn to dusk each day.

Back when I was a downtown Indianapolis dweller, I always had the Woodruff Place Flea Market on my calendar. This year, it’s scheduled for June 4-5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sale runs throughout this historic neighborhood on the very near eastside of the city, and 10% of the sales are donated back to help with the neighborhood’s historic preservation efforts. I’ve always picked up a few quirky and unique finds each year I’ve gone. Plus, it’s a chance to walk through one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods. There will be food vendors set up and there is typically musical entertainment throughout both days. My advice? Get there early, parking will be at a premium.

Other helpful yard sale tips? I always bring a bag or two to store my purchases. And make sure you have cash, preferably small bills.

What are you favorite yard sale finds?