LUMBERTON — Bargain hunters were on the prowl as classic rock blasted from the speakers at the 23rd annual Labor Day Yard Sale held at the Lumberton plaza Monday.
“I love it. I love to meet people I haven’t seen in a while. Some I haven’t seen since last year,” Catherine Locklear said.
The annual event is planned every year for locals to come out and enjoy food, music and bargains. Proceeds from the event goes to help fund beautification efforts for downtown Lumberton.
Those who turned out on Monday were also treated to a nice summer day, with mild temperatures and sunny skies.
Locklear, a Lumberton resident, came with her cousin Tye Locklear, who is also from Lumberton. They said that they enjoy going to yard sales all year long — and they are veterans of the Labor Day event.
“I do it every year I’m off from work,” Tye said. “They should have it more than once a year.”
Tye said that she paid $2 for a purse she said would cost $100 new $2 and Catherine said that she found two suits that she plans to wear to church.
Other items that deals could be found on included television, shoes, holiday reefs and other decorations, toys and a variety of attic treasures. Most of the attendees came for the clothing, but some left with other useful items to take home.
“I make my rounds,” said John Hardin, who said he was making his third trip around the block. “I just fill up a bag and come around again.”
Hardin, a Lumberton resident, said that he was able to get two bicycles, gas masks and kitchen utensils.
Local business owners also use the events to get great steals to turn into a profit later.
“I got some pretty good stuff. This is wonderful,” Wanda Freeman said. “It seems smaller this year. There’s usually tables all the way to the fountain.”
Freeman owns Wanda’s Boutique in Lumberton.
Ella Moore, another veteran of the yard sale, said that this is her fifth year being a vendor. She enjoys coming out and meeting new people every year. Moore and came with her daughter, granddaughter and her pastor at Holy Swamp Baptist Church. She started her day at about 5:30 a.m., when she set up her booth.
Dick Taylor, an organizer of the event who has an insurance office downtown and also owns a lot of rental property there, said that 80 vendors came out to the event.
“It’s just a lot of fun. There’s nothing else going on Labor Day and it gives people the chance to get out and do something,” he said.
The official start time was 7 a.m., but many vendors and a few bargain hunters came as early as 5 a.m. The sale typically runs until 3 p.m., or whenever the crowd thins. Last year’s event raised about $1,500 that is used for projects to beautify the downtown area.
