Bargains for the browsing in Naramata

There are few communities where life is put on hold for half a day so that visitors can attend a sizable yard sale.

For the past seven years on the last Saturday of April, ten percent of the homes in Naramata have hosted yard sales. Besides the 60 residential sales, many community groups find ways to benefit. 

The school gymnasium becomes a giant used clothing boutique where browsers can fill a shopping bag for $5.  The crew at the Old Age Pensioners’ Club grill and serve 500 hot dogs. Rev. Sandra Stickney dons an apron and whips up a hundred of her famous cinnamon sticky buns as a church fundraiser. And, visitors always delight in a photo-op with the two colourful –yet feral– peacock wandering about the village.

“It’s a really fun day with a super festive atmosphere,” says coordinator Craig Henderson.  “I estimate that a couple of thousand visitors come to shop. Most of the year we are a sleepy little scenic village, but on yard sale day it’s not uncommon to have gridlock on our main road. Our homeowners get rid of lots of stuff, our community groups raise thousands of dollars.”

The Naramata Community Yard sale is set for Saturday, April 28 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Visitors can pick up a map along the roadside as you enter the community, or download the day before at www.MyNaramata.com.

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