World's Longest Yard Sale returns Aug. 4; Gadsden, Etowah tourism will benefit

Gadsden and Etowah County can soon expect an influx of vendors as the World's Longest Yard Sale kicks off.

From Aug. 4-7, vendors will be offering and shoppers will be looking for historic signage, pop culture and household items and clothing in the 35th year of the sale.

Gadsden is the beginning point of the sale, which is traditionally held on the first Thursday through Sunday in August and extends across six states: Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.

In total, it spans approximately 690 miles, most of that on U.S. Highway 127 beginning in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and ending in Addison, Michigan.

Hugh Stump, executive director of Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, explained that the sale has been occurring "organically" since 1987. It originated in Fentress County, Tennessee, where it's still headquartered, and has only grown from there extending south and north.

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"It's an organic event that prospers only as long as people want to participate," Stump said.

There also are no set hours for the sale. Its website explains that vendors can typically be seen opening around 8 a.m. local time and often going until after dark

Because Gadsden serves as the beginning point, Stump said, the area becomes a popular spot throughout the event, allowing outside buyers to positively contribute to Etowah County's economy.

"The publicity from the sale throughout the U.S. helps Gadsden and Etowah County become more popular as the starting location and the home of Noccalula Falls Park," he added.

Stump said Gadsden and Etowah County can see up to 15,000 people "on a good year," but that's an estimate since there is no single place that all visitors must be at.

However, the sale almost always results in an increase of revenue from the tourism in the area — that gets funneled right back into the county.

"We are funded by a percentage of the lodging taxes collected in Etowah County. So, increased visitors to the area results in increased hotel stays and increased revenue for the tourism board to promote the area," Stump said. "Also, visitors spend money on dining, shopping, attractions and other ancillary spending, which helps the owners of those businesses, plus creates sales tax revenue for the various communities and the county."

While Stump noted that visits to the sale saw a negative dip in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic saw it blossom in 2020 and 2021, as it is "outside and social distancing can be easily practiced."

However, he predicts there may be another attendance dip this year.

"We expect the sale to be very popular this year, but travelers may not travel as far or for as long as usual due to high gas prices, increasing inflation and an uncertain near-term economic outlook," he said.

Nevertheless, Stump said tourism officials forward to the sale this year and hope that it results in maintaining their ultimate goals for tourism in the area.

"Our goal each year in promoting the sale is to show off Noccalula Falls and the Gadsden and Etowah County area to new audiences, and to increase return visits in the future," he said.

For more information on the sale, visit www.greatergadsden.com or www.127sale.com. Free brochures and maps can be obtained by calling 800-565-0411, or visiting the Greater Gadsden Area Tourism Visitor Center at 90 Walnut St. in Gadsden from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: World's Longest Yard Sale returns Aug. 4, 2022 in Gadsden