Make your plans now, bargain hunters, for National Road Yard Sale

Bargain hunters will be wandering along U.S. 40 in droves this week as the annual Historic National Road Yard Sale Days return.

The event will run from dawn until dusk Wednesday through Sunday along the highway.

Pat McDaniel, the owner of The Old Storefront antique and vintage shop in Dublin, came up with the idea 14 years ago. It started as a local event but has grown to include more than 800 miles of U.S. 40 from Baltimore to St. Louis.

"Looks like it's going to be a lot of people and a lot of food this year," McDaniel said. "More people are getting out and doing food."

The annual yard sales typically have vendors and would-be customers lined up along the highway throughout Wayne County.

"It's just bumper-to-bumper," McDaniel said.

In addition to residents participating along U.S. 40 or putting up signs directing folks off the highway to their homes, some community groups such as churches, civic organizations and schools usually organize their own sales.

Items available along the route include antiques, collectibles, furniture, garden produce, toys, clothes, household goods and more.

McDaniel pointed to a couple of churches that will be participating this year that she says folks might want to check out.

The Centerville Church of the Nazarene, at 7181 W. U.S. 40 in Centerville, offers an alternative for those who don't want to walk up and down the road looking for good deals.

"If people are coming out, the best one-stop shop is Centerville Church of the Nazarene," McDaniel said.

The church will have food, restrooms, a playground for kids and indoor sales, including 53 spaces that are rented out, she said.

McDaniel also highlighted Faith United Lutheran Church at 4015 National Road W. in Richmond. She said Habitat for Humanity will be set up there to accept donations as will Second Chance Animal Rescue.

And McDaniel said she already has some special things in the works for next year's 15th anniversary.

Among those is a group that she's set up on Facebook to collect people's favorite memories and stories from the event's history. The group can be found by searching for "Historic National Road Yard Sale/Anecdotes."

As far as this year's event goes, McDaniel said she hopes Mother Nature doesn't get in the way.

"We're hoping for wonderful weather," she said. "I'm putting an order in that it (only) rain from 10 at night to 3 in the morning."