MY 2024 QIDC 🌟100🌟 MILE YARD SALE ADVENTURE

Greetings thrifties! Apologies for the recent hiatus in my posts, as I've been traveling in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario in search of vintage items over the past few days. If you haven't already, feel free to follow me on Facebook for real-time updates on my thrifting escapades. Additionally, make sure to check out my store Chola Vintage on Mercari, where I'll soon be adding new vintage pieces!

There is a lot to explore during this year's 100-mile sale, marking the beginning of my five-day search. If you are not familiar with this huge annual sale in Pennsylvania, please refer to my previous blog post. For further details about the sale, click here.

Similar to previous years, we begin our journey in Snow Shoe, the nearest sale to our home, although still a few hours away. We arrived just as the sun was beginning to rise. I rely heavily on the interactive map provided by QIDC at the start, until the sales become more concentrated. Snow Shoe, a small village with friendly residents, offers a surprising number of sales given its size.I discovered several items there. Following mostly the main route 879, I occasionally detoured for additional sales, with Mr. Thrifty "escorting" me so I could easily navigate in and out.

Despite a decrease in sales compared to previous years, there was no shortage of quality items available! You can discover a wide variety of products at various price points. Children's apparel, outdoor equipment, and household essentials are always abundant. With such a diverse selection in one location, one may question the need to purchase new items at all.

Just a sample.........

Goodies Galore!

Karthaus is where I prefer to shop, and it serves as the central location for the organization where you can pick up a sales map and informative travel guides about the area. You can easily spot them by locating their canopy. Additionally, there are food trucks, portable toilets, and a large number of sales and antique vendors in the vicinity.

Chris excels at managing the website, creating the map, and overseeing the annual sale. I had the opportunity to chat with her at the booth this year and dive into the origins of this massive sale, which started modestly. QIDC, which stands for The Quehanna Industrial Development Corporation, was established in 1990 to revitalize the Karthaus area by attracting businesses and industry. Initially, the organization comprised a small group of locals led by Raymond "Sap" Savel until his passing in 2018. Sap was a respected figure in the community, known as the go-to person to make things happen in the area. After a few locals suggested a community yard sale, the QIDC annual 100-mile yard sale was launched, with the participation of several nearby communities.

I shopped the route in red, blue I missed 😞

While the name implies that it's only 100 miles, this past year logged over 144 miles on the main route, and over 500 miles combined with the back roads. Being a rural area, the money earned from this sale benefits the residents and community in many ways. Some use the funds to purchase school clothes for their kids, make home repairs, and help with their everyday expenses. Many families also donate a portion of their proceeds to a local fire hall, animal shelter, or other nonprofit organizations. The QIDC itself is a nonprofit organization with the goal of neighbors helping neighbors. Chris and her team of unpaid volunteers all do a wonderful job, as it takes many hours to organize and advertise an event this large. The organization faces a particular challenge in securing the necessary funds for brochures and portable toilets when participants fail to pay the modest $10 fee, so it's advised to support the sales bearing the QIDC poster. Everyone, whether a resident or not, is encouraged to join. For additional details about selling at the event, please visit their website. If interesting in joining the yard sale community for updates on the 2025 sale, visit the fan Facebook page where friendships are formed and event details are shared.

After spending a full 8 + hours sourcing, and with Mr. Thrifty becoming irritable, we still only managed to cover a portion of the sale. The red indicates the area we explored, while the blue represents what we missed (see above). Since this is a two-day sale, if we weren't traveling north to Niagara, we could have completed the second part of the sale. However, even with two days, it's challenging to visit all the locations! Personally, my haul was modest as I was cautious due to storing my finds with my Airbnb host while traveling to Canada. I was anxious about potential issues at the border, but thankfully, my concerns were unwarranted. Stay tuned for my upcoming blog post on thrifting in Ontario and vacationing at Niagara Falls on a budget by subscribing.

Trunk haul 2024

Stay tuned as many of these items will be for sale in my next vintage drop!

With reluctance, I made my way to Clearfield to visit a Goodwill store before ending our thrifting adventure. Although this Goodwill store may not always have vintage items, it does have a wide selection of quality clothing. Unfortunately, due to Covid, their dressing rooms remain closed, but they do offer an exchange policy. Despite this inconvenience, it is still worth stopping by if you are in the area.

Every year, we stay in Clearfield, a delightful small town with river views that is perfect for leisurely strolls. As a vintage enthusiast, it's no surprise that I opt for the same lovely 1920's Airbnb accommodation every year. Our hostess, Kelly, has become more like a friend who always ensures that all her guests feel warmly welcomed and cherished.

During your time in Clearfield, I suggest enjoying a meal outdoors at the Dented Keg while taking in the peaceful riverfront scenery, followed by a leisurely stroll to Sherwood's Creamery for dessert. If you're still in the mood for thrifting after exploring the nearby Goodwill store, you can drive 30 minutes south along 322 to Philipsburg,another small town. The Goodwill store in that area is a treasure trove of vintage items.

The following day, on our way to Niagara, I couldn't help but stop at another sale we came across naturally. It was there that I found this shirt, proudly displayed, bearing a saying that truly resonates with me. The homeowner, who specializes in custom work, created it. Do you have any regrets from yard sales? If you do, I'd love to hear about it!

If you enjoy yard sales as much as I do, or if you simply love spending a day hunting for treasures in the countryside, then you should definitely make sure to attend next year's sale. Looking forward to seeing you there!! 😘