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Yard sales

Michigan trail offers 200 miles of yard sales this weekend

Sydney Smith
(Port Huron, Mich.) Times Herald
Customers stop Aug. 8, 2014, for the Antique Yard Sale Trail along Lakeshore Road in Fort Gratiot, Mich.

ST. CLAIR, Mich. — This weekend may not have the World's Longest Yard Sale, but you'll be able to find more than 200 miles of yard and garage sales in an area of eastern Michigan known as the Thumb.

The 14th annual Antique Yard Sale Trail began Friday with stops along Michigan 29 and Michigan 25 from New Baltimore and Algonac along the St. Clair River within spittin' distance of Canada to Port Hope and Port Austin on Lake Huron.

“The calls come from all over the nation,” said Mary Pat Teichow, who founded the event and has organized it every year. “I encourage people who live along the shore to sweep off their porches and welcome all the tourists to the Thumb.”

The sales begin about 8 a.m. ET and last all day. If you’re just going to browse, the event is free, but patrons are encouraged to buy from local businesses.

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The sale trail started as a way to make money for Blue Water Area businesses, stemming from Teichow’s love for antiques. She operates an antiques store in Greenwood Township, Mich.

Teichow and her husband went on a sale trail in the South — the World's Longest Yard Sale spans 690 miles along U.S. 127 from Addison Mich., to Gadsden, Ala.; began in 1987; and celebrated its 30th year of sales a week ago — so she knew it would be a good idea for Michigan. She brought her idea to the Blue Water Antique Dealers Association.

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“It was a bunch of people that got together, and it came to fruition,” she said.

This year, at least 10 communities are participating, Teichow said. Some cities have other events during the sale trail, such as farmers markets and museum exhibits.

  • New Baltimore is featuring Music By the Bay and a farmers market.
  • Port Sanilac has an antique boat show on Saturday.
  • In Harbor Beach, the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets will be in town.

“In years past, we have had lighthouses open for the tours, some of the museums along the shoreline, and of course, there’s the yard sales — not to mention all the antique shops,” Teichow said.

The sale has been popular in the past, bringing thousands from outside the area to the thumb of Michigan's mitten.

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“It does get gridlocked out there sometimes," she said. "Friday evening it’s like a parking lot out there.”

St. Clair County Sheriff Deputy Steve Campau echoed Teichow, and said drivers need to have a lot of patience.

“Know that you’re going to take a long amount of time to get places,” he said.

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Teichow encouraged residents and tourists to explore the Thumb and its antique shops. That's why the Antique Yard Sale Trail was created.

"It was a grassroots effort by the Blue Water Antique Dealers Association, completed by strangers and volunteers along the shoreline who believe in the effort," she said. "They want people to have yard sales and explore the Thumb."

Follow Sydney Smith on Twitter: @SydneyS_mith

Related:

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Prince Edward Island has 70 miles of one beautiful yard sale - USATODAY.com

Heed the teachings of this garage-sale guru - USATODAY.com

USATODAY.com - The long and winding road to treasures

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