Chamber CEO: World's Largest Garage Sale 2025 was 'record-breaking'

WARRENSBURG | Shoppers numbering in the tens of thousands descended upon Warrensburg from Thursday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 5 to hunt for bargains of all kinds during the town's annual World's Largest Garage Sale event. Sponsored by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, the 2025 edition of the great sale was regarded as "record-breaking," according to Chamber president Jack Bartlett, who said the event was a resounding success. VENDORS ARRIVED EARLIER Vendors and some residents set up their merchandise for the huge sale as early as Monday, Sept. 29, and they were joined by hundreds of others each day thereafter. Vendor Sandra Ackerman, who had her wares set up Thursday through Sunday in a tent on River Street, said that Thursday and Friday were the 2025 sales' peak days, and Saturday was not as busy as it was in prior years. While Ackerman's two most notable items sold were a crocheted coverlet from the 1800s and a large antique sausage grinder at least a century old, nearby Anthony Fidd had his own treasures that remained for sale through Sunday. One was a 1800s brass Victorian bed-warmer that would hold several pounds of wood-fired coals. "You pass this bed warmer over your sheets, then you put it under your bed to keep warm at night," Fedd said. He also had a rare Heywood Wakefield wicker highchair available for a fraction of what it would cost from an antiques dealer. Up on Main Street, Leanne Becker of Loudonville, a former owner of antiques shops, was displaying a formidable array of items for sale at Warrensburg's annual community sale: Halloween ghouls, Pyrex ware, a decorated witches' hat, wooden collectibles, military goods, swords, and vintage roll-film cameras. "It's great that so many people come to Warrensburg and enjoy the experience," Becker said. "It's a wonderful time of year to come here," she said of the giant sale that coincides with the area's landscape displaying its vibrant autumn colors. "We love it here — it's beautiful." She said this year's sale attracted people from not only Vermont, but also Massachusetts and elsewhere across New England. "Canadians would normally come to this sale, but not this year — things happen," she said, raising her eyebrows. SALE YIELDS VARIED 'FINDS' As Becker was describing her items to prospective buyers, Emily from Johnstown walked past with her teenage son and preteen daughter. Her son found an old metal toolbox and hedge clippers at a bargain price, and her daughter held a 3D-printed fluorescent pink egg with a revolving door that, when opened, reveals a purple faux octopus. "We've never been to this sale, so we're here to check it out," Emily said. Meanwhile, Tonya Calley of Westford, Vt., examined a wooden trinket container, handcrafted of juniper wood. She joked that someone would find it "perfect" for stashing "weed." This was Calley's first year at the World's Largest Garage Sale — she heard about it from her brother's partner Nina, who said that it was similar to a community sale in Jericho, Vermont. "I like to 'thrift,' so I booked an Airbnb a year ago for this weekend," she said. Among Calley's "finds" at Warrensburg's huge sale were an architectural pillar — to be used as a plant stand — and vintage Woolrich sweaters, a popular brand from the mid-1800s through the 1950s. Calley's husband acquired a "hydration backpack" with a long plastic hose to drink from when hiking, she said. "In four weeks, we're going to Utah on a hiking trip," Calley said. Her teenage son and his friend bought more sentimental items: hand-carved wooden flowers to give to their respective girlfriends. About 12 feet away on the edge of the Main Street sidewalk was a pair of well-worn, hollow plastic statuettes, electrically illuminated, representing a Nativity scene — awaiting a bid from a shopper. Perched on a curtain rod nearby was a rubber mask depicting the head of a rabid wolf with bulging eyes, giant teeth, and a protruding tongue, also for sale. 'BACK STREET' TREASURES Warrensburg resident Teresa Whalen, who spent four days hunting collectible and intriguing items, offered her observations that the sale's attendance over four days was equal to or somewhat greater than in other recent years. During her four-day search throughout the town's back streets, she found an arts & crafts leaded-glass candle holder, and books formerly owned by local notable Lenore Smith, on various topics including architecture, art, gardening, and interior design. Also, she obtained, for one dollar, a framed vintage print of a Christmas scene, created by renowned regional folk artist Cate Mandigo. Meanwhile, her husband, John Franchini, found several Christmas ornaments depicting Santa. "We gravitate to the private sales, and there were more of them this year," she said. "With the weather so beautiful over all four days of the sale, a lot of people were shopping. And since I saw many of the people with carts or carrying big shopping bags that looked full, I assume a lot of things were being purchased." Bartlett praised Warrensburg residents' spirit and the resiliency of local merchants. "It was truly amazing to see visitors from all over the country come together in Warrensburg to celebrate community, explore our town, and hunt for those one-of-a-kind finds,' he said. "The energy all weekend long was nothing short of incredible."

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Chamber CEO: World's Largest Garage Sale 2025 was 'record-breaking'

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