Schools across Kentucky will soon be opening, meaning another summer is beginning to wind down, but with that also brings another mid-summer miles-long “trek” of what almost amounts to early Christmas shopping for bargain hunters, antique collectors and those who simply like to ‘shop.” Yes, the U.S. 127 Yard Sale is one again almost here, with vendors and buyers getting out in force next week.

The sale “unofficially” is set to run Thursday through Sunday, August 4-7, but as has been the case in the last several years, some vendors across the lengthy sales route will be setting up as early as the first part of next week. Some of the hot spots in the Albany-Clinton County area, including at Mountain View Park north of Albany, some vendors are expected to open for business as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.

The outdoor corridor sale has become a mid-summer tradition that takes place between the final two big three summer holidays, the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend and always draws thousands of visitors from across not only surrounding states, but people from all across the country–not to mention local residents who take part in the sale both at home and on the road looking for that unique item at a yard sale price.

In fact, some visitors from outside the U.S. have been known to frequent the 127 Sale route and 2016 is expected to be no exception.

The sale, touted as the longest yard sale in the United States, is also probably the most popular. Looking at the sale route, Clinton County and southern Kentucky is almost in the very middle of all the activity that takes place over about a full week of time.

The sale is definitely not limited to just major vendor set-up sites, but homes all along the route have yards filled with sale items throughout offering bargains of all types to travelers and treasure seekers.

The sale is headquartered in nearby Jamestown, Tennessee (Fentress County) and is now in its 29th year. The route covers at least 690 miles, stretching from Addison, Michigan to the north to Gadsden, Alabama to the south, with Kentucky and Tennessee being the center areas of yard sale shoppers from either direction.

The original intent of the sale was to prove that the back roads also have something to offer travelers, tourists and shoppers and that the interstate system isn’t the only mode of travel.

Local officials and organizations in Kentucky and Tennessee over the years have also put together over 300 attractions along the route to provide enjoyment and entertainment in various forms for entire families.

A few years ago, the Lookout Mountain Parkway Association asked to be included in the sale route after the event began to grow. The Parkway leaves Chattanooga at Highway 58 and becomes several different highway numbers reaching the final stage in Gadsden. This makes it no longer “just the 127 Yard Sale,” but is the same great sale.

The new routing crosses the Northwest corner of Georgia, meaning five states in all are involved. This added 100 miles to the already existing 350 mile route, making it 450 miles at that time, which in turn made it the World’s Longest Yard Sale at the time.

Even though the overall number of travelers, especially locally, have been smaller the past couple of summers, sometimes attributed to weather, thousands of people are again expected to travel through Albany and Clinton County all of next week looking for bargains that range from something as small as a ring or Hot Wheels car to a real vehicle which is often times seen along the sale route.

Several vendor locations have popped up in the Clinton County area over the years, where throngs of shoppers are seeking bargains throughout the sale period, including at Junction Station on Hwy. 90, which hooks up with U.S. 127 to the area west of Albany, in the lot next to the IDA-Welcome Center, and perhaps still the most popular, at Mountain View Park where 60 to 70 vendors or more will be selling their wares.

The park is an excellent location for vendors, and visitors are not only offered bargains, but food is available as well. Anyone interested in either setting up a vendor or food booth at next week’s sale, they still have time and may contact Park Director Bobby Reneau at 606-688-4337 for more information.

Many people plan their vacation around the sale and travel the entire 690-mile route.

The economic aspect for all cities and counties along the area is also impressive, but businesses such as hotels, restaurants, boat docks and marinas and others see a big lift in sales during the event.

For more information about the U.S. 127 Corridor Sale, log on to www.127sale.com or for local events, contact your local Chambers of Commerce or Tourist Commission offices.