Whether hunting for power tools, vintage clothing, jewellery, art, or vinyl albums, the prospect of finding such bargain-priced treasures attracts hundreds of people to Thorold every second week in September.
And to homeowners, the prospect of purging—and being paid to clean house—entices a plethora of participants, from Port Robinson, Allanburg, St. John’s, Thorold South, and Confederation Heights, to the downtown hub—to part with their prized possessions.
Thorold’s 16th annual Community-Wide Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14.
The event is the brainstorm of Heritage Thorold chair Craig Finlay, an avid antique/garage sale enthusiast in his own right.
“It all started with, ‘How can we bring people to Thorold?’ Finlay told ThoroldNews.
For 16 years, he and his wife have welcomed fellow garage-salers to their “old-town” neighbourhood home. Those blocks that border the canal, in particular, can be a treasure trove for finding historic memorabilia and antiques, he noted. And often, the shoppers—who come from Toronto and farther to find several garage sales within walking distance—tell the Finlays that they’d “like to buy a home in Thorold,” he added.
“Last year, we had the biggest crowd we ever had, with people staying in Airbnbs. People have found great blanket boxes, tools,” and a number of other valuable items at the Thorold-wide event.
“You never know what treasures you’re going to find.”
The abundance of toys, books and children’s clothing make it fun for kids to shop, too, with very little money required.
The family-friendly—and green—event also saves items “from going in the landfill,” said Finlay.
“I would like to see more organizations and churches participate,” he added.
Generally, garage sales start at 8 a.m. but each homeowner is free to set his or her own time frame.
Last year, there were 100 participating homeowners; plus many others who didn’t register.
City of Thorold staff Nicole Gioseffi and Joanne Goulet designed an easy link on the city’s new website, said Finlay.
“We encourage participants to register.”
By clicking on the list, shoppers can easily plan their routes ahead of time, and avoid backtracking.
To register a sale or download a list of sales, go to City of Thorold website.
