Everything old eventually becomes new again.
The old saying was no more evident than in Kings County this weekend, where shoppers bargained and bartered for just about everything, including the kitchen sink.
For vendor Darren Biggar, the weekend is a climactic sale of the year which even sees yard sale enthusiasts from across the Maritimes attend.
Biggar has a regular table at the North River Flea Market and purchases unique items through auctions and online before flipping them.
"An old guy told me years ago, 'if you buy something on Saturday for a dollar and sell it Sunday for two dollars, you just doubled your money'," he said.
While Biggar can always count on certain hot-selling pieces, soapstone carvings for tourists, Ducks Unlimited items as well as Star Wars memorabilia, sometimes it's the unexpected items that garner the most interest.
This weekend, it was a large bronze elephant rotary phone statue which Biggar described as "the best find in the 70 Mile Yard Sale."
He's also noticed an interest in anything vintage, such as a 1950s German-produced clock as well as older Island books.
"Believe it or not... I took about 12 Island books and sold every one of them, people are interested in P.E.I. and the old stories," he said. "I like vintage, eye-catching things you won't find in a box chain store... a lot of young people are decorating their apartments and houses retro."
Biggar's table was one of the more than 150 sites in the 70 Mile Coastal Yard Sale hosted by the Wood Islands and Area Development Corporation.
All funds go to support local initiatives including employment and community activities.
Driving through southern Kings County was like a Twilight Zone episode, with almost identical yard sale signs and large crowds pulled over in front of nearly every house east of Stratford.
For vendors like David Buell, the weekend was more of a chance to get rid of no-longer-needed items.
At his site near Hazelbrook, Buell's items included a 1985 Honda Big Red 250 three wheeler with less than 50 miles, as well as a number of tools.
It also included a skidoo with less than 1,000 km on it.
"I'm just getting ready to retire I don't like the cold weather so I don't need that machine. I'm going to Florida," said Buell.
While the sale is a tradition for vendors, it's also become an anxiously awaited event for buyers.
Ernie Biggar and his daughter Donna were two buyers interested in the three-wheeler.
While Ernie attends the yard sale every year, this year's snuck up by surprise.
"We thought it was next weekend so we were set up to have one at our place in Margate today," said Donna.
"We were wondering where everyone was this morning," added Ernie, who said they'd be resuming their own yard sale next week.
Biggar said half of the weekend's fun is being out on the hunt, something he planned on doing Sunday.
"I'll probably box up everything today and go look around tomorrow," said the vendor. "I know the good stuff will be gone but it's just a good day to go out and cruise around."
Everything old eventually becomes new again.
The old saying was no more evident than in Kings County this weekend, where shoppers bargained and bartered for just about everything, including the kitchen sink.
For vendor Darren Biggar, the weekend is a climactic sale of the year which even sees yard sale enthusiasts from across the Maritimes attend.
Biggar has a regular table at the North River Flea Market and purchases unique items through auctions and online before flipping them.
"An old guy told me years ago, 'if you buy something on Saturday for a dollar and sell it Sunday for two dollars, you just doubled your money'," he said.
While Biggar can always count on certain hot-selling pieces, soapstone carvings for tourists, Ducks Unlimited items as well as Star Wars memorabilia, sometimes it's the unexpected items that garner the most interest.
This weekend, it was a large bronze elephant rotary phone statue which Biggar described as "the best find in the 70 Mile Yard Sale."
He's also noticed an interest in anything vintage, such as a 1950s German-produced clock as well as older Island books.
"Believe it or not... I took about 12 Island books and sold every one of them, people are interested in P.E.I. and the old stories," he said. "I like vintage, eye-catching things you won't find in a box chain store... a lot of young people are decorating their apartments and houses retro."
Biggar's table was one of the more than 150 sites in the 70 Mile Coastal Yard Sale hosted by the Wood Islands and Area Development Corporation.
All funds go to support local initiatives including employment and community activities.
Driving through southern Kings County was like a Twilight Zone episode, with almost identical yard sale signs and large crowds pulled over in front of nearly every house east of Stratford.
For vendors like David Buell, the weekend was more of a chance to get rid of no-longer-needed items.
At his site near Hazelbrook, Buell's items included a 1985 Honda Big Red 250 three wheeler with less than 50 miles, as well as a number of tools.
It also included a skidoo with less than 1,000 km on it.
"I'm just getting ready to retire I don't like the cold weather so I don't need that machine. I'm going to Florida," said Buell.
While the sale is a tradition for vendors, it's also become an anxiously awaited event for buyers.
Ernie Biggar and his daughter Donna were two buyers interested in the three-wheeler.
While Ernie attends the yard sale every year, this year's snuck up by surprise.
"We thought it was next weekend so we were set up to have one at our place in Margate today," said Donna.
"We were wondering where everyone was this morning," added Ernie, who said they'd be resuming their own yard sale next week.
Biggar said half of the weekend's fun is being out on the hunt, something he planned on doing Sunday.
"I'll probably box up everything today and go look around tomorrow," said the vendor. "I know the good stuff will be gone but it's just a good day to go out and cruise around."
