Bella vista city wide garage sale 2022

Dates to Remember

Friday, September 30th to Wednesday, November 30th

September 30, Association & Water bills mailed

October 7, Biographies due for Board positions 

October 31, Association & Water bills are due

October 31, Halloween trick or treating, 6-8 pm

November 1, 8, 15, and 22, Yard waste pickup

November 7, Annual membership meeting, 7:00 pm at LBVIA Office 

BELLA VISTA -- Best friends Rachel Stripling and Stephanie Dickey combined friendship, laughter and some good deals April 30 during Bella Vista's annual Citywide Garage Sale.

Stripling, of Bella Vista, and her bestie of 24 years, culled through their respective collections of clothes, dishes and more to offer bargains to Bella Vista neighbors and visitors.

By mid-morning, the two -- along with Dickey's 8-year-old daughter, Cecilia -- were making deals, seeing a lot of business and sharing a lot of laughter.

Dickey and her daughter traveled from central Arkansas to see her friend, bringing boxes of goodies to sell.

Both women had to work on April 29, so they set up late that night in Stripling's carport and hoped for the best.

The next morning, it was all still there, Dickey said. The two were open for business at 6:30.

"We wanted to have a girls' weekend," Stripling explained. "We'll go out to dinner tonight, have some sweets, maybe stroll Coler Creek."

A butter churn, clothes, decor, educational resources and more lined the carport and tables. The combined effort -- and critical garage sale signage -- resulted in good sales, they said. When visited by a reporter, they had just sold a professional Nikon camera with lenses. A record player, that had already sold, was probably the most unique item Dickey had, she said. Stripling also had a working vintage record console that remained for $75. Stripling said she was only the second owner of the 1960s record player.

At her own table, Dickey's daughter, Cecilia, 8, had priced her items ahead of time, and oversaw her business that morning. She said she was ready to let go of some toys so others could enjoy them.

"I've had this one since I was 2," she said, pointing to one doll.

The young entrepreneur said she planned to utilize her incoming funds.

"You can sell stuff to get new things," she said.

Stripling said she will definitely participate in another citywide sale but probably not next year. She'll have to accumulate some more stuff, she said.

Across town, just west of Town Center, Michelle Washington and her mother, Dee, enjoyed the warm, sunny weather while sitting on a couch, waiting for customers to drive in.

The weather turned out unbelievably good, they said, but sales were slow.

Michelle Washington said she realizes that more upscale neighborhoods within Bella Vista -- such as those in the Highlands -- were probably the ones frequented.

However, the sheer total of garage sales dampened sales for some, she said.

"Six hundred in one weekend is too many," she said.

Designating a certain section of Bella Vista and having that zone host garage sales for a specific time might work better, she said.

Dee Washington said the family came from Florida, where garage sale and giveaway dynamics were different.

Anything set on the curb for free pickup would go quickly, she said.

Likewise, garage sales in Florida were definitely a fast-paced situation.

She glanced across the driveway, still full of decor, clothes and more. "All this would have been gone," she said.

BELLA VISTA -- Bella Vista's citywide garage sale is set to return this spring.

The city will sponsor the event April 29-30. Rain dates are May 6-7.

Considering the ongoing pandemic, the event will be planned to proceed as conditions allow. Participants should proceed as safely as possible and at their level of comfort in welcoming shoppers to their residences, according to the city.

The city has partnered with Discover Bella Vista, the city's Advertising and Promotion Commission, as well as Bella Vista Neighbors, a neighborhood program and website.

An online map of garage sale locations during the two days will be provided on the Bella Vista Neighbor's website for shoppers' ease in locating sales. Participants wishing to submit their address or plan their shopping adventure beforehand, can visit the map online at https://www.bellavistaneighbor.com/garage-sales.html. Sellers can enter which day or days they wish to participate and classify the types of items that will be sold.

A link to a printable list of addresses will also be available for the event. Those who submit their address by April 1 will be included on the printable list.

Anyone who operates a business in Bella Vista and wants to get involved, can contact Cassi Lapp by email at [email protected]

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