“People book entire trips, entire vacations, around the event!”
 

What is the 127 Yard Sale?

The 127 Yard Sale is an annual event that takes place the first Thursday-Sunday in August each year. It’s literally, The World’s Longest Yard Sale! The route spans 6 states (Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama) and is 690-miles long. This unique event draws hundreds of thousands of people (shoppers/vendors) each year.
 

When did the 127 Yard Sale begin?

The 127 Yard Sale began in 1987. Mike Walker, former Fentress County Executive in Jamestown, TN, planned the event to encourage travelers to bypass interstate highways such as I-40 and I-75 in favor of scenic routes that would take them through rural communities and allow them to experience what the small towns and cities had to offer. With state parks, historical attractions, scenic drives, waterfalls, opportunities for hiking and biking, rivers and lakes for boating, train rides, horseback riding, fishing, bluegrass music, arts and crafts festivals, and more, this provided a great opportunity to bring more visitors to Tennessee and the 127 Yard Sale route. Visitors from across the country, as well as those who have traveled internationally to the sale, will enjoy both the yard sales and attractions along the 127 Yard Sale route.
 

127 Yard Sale (2025)

In 2025 the 127 Yard Sale will be held from August 7th-10th (Thursday-Sunday). This will be the 39th consecutive year this one-of-a-kind event has taken place since it began in 1987. As hundreds of thousands of yardsalers and vendors converge on the 690-mile route from across the country it's sure to be the biggest yet! The World's Longest Yard Sale is also known to attract international interest as tourists and media from abroad seek to experience an event they will only find in the United States.
 

SHOW NOTES & TAKEAWAYS

  • The event’s history.
  • Tips for visiting the multi-state event.
  • Thrifting as part of tourism and its economic impact.
  • The vendors that participate.
  • This year’s event is August 7 – 10.
  • Working with their sponsor, Rust-Oleum and the #sprayitforward initiative.