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Annual Bargain Highway draws hundreds of shoppers

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Labor Day weekend brought in shoppers from as far as Connecticut to the 21st annual 30-Mile Yard Sale on Bargain Highway in Benton County.

This much-anticipated event helps the tourism numbers in the county and runs from Holladay through Camden and into Big Sandy. This year, Chamber Executive Assistant Stephanie Harcleroad said the local hotels, campgrounds and cabins sold-out as a result of the annual event.

While the final tallies are not in, the Benton County Chamber of Commerce reports a very successful turnout of bargain hunters and vendors. According to Harcleroad, there were 29 $1,000 giveaway stations, which was more than previous years.

Locals often have mixed reviews each year because of increased traffic and slower thoroughfare. However, the majority of citizens enjoy the excitement surrounding the yearly occurrence. One of those locals included 6-year-old Waylon Clayton who set up a pastry table just across from Camden Elementary School. Clayton said he was selling the cookies and desserts after his grandmother, Janet Holland offered up the idea. He eventually “sold out” and was able to put up some money for a rainy day.

There were several food trucks along Bargain Highway. Dossy’s Gourmet Burger truck’s owner Brandon Anderson said, “It was privilege to be a part of the Bargain Highway this year. We soldmore than 150 burgers over the two-day span and had a great time seeing all of the new and returning customers. We can’t wait to be back next year and do it all over again.”

Other restaurants in the community fared well during the event. David Smith from Big Daddy’s on Hwy. 70, had a food tent set up and said, “We will definitely be joining in again next year. It reminded me why we got in this business in the first place. I met some really amazing people over the weekend and shared really good conversations. On the first day alone, we made our money back and then some and then did really well on Saturday, too. We got to expand our menu and offer different takes on gourmet street food.”

Smith finished with, “The Benton County Chamber’s Office and the lovely people of Camden have always been very loving and supporting to us and it makes us happy to be part of such a beautiful community.”

Harcleroad said the annual event couldn’t take place without the assistance of the Tennessee River Resort District. As for the winner of the $1,000 drawing, the name will be announced on WRJB radio during the fair later this month.

Each year, the average shopper spends more than $68 at local retail stores and $140 along Bargain Highway, which means more than $100,000 of new money brought into the county.

The 30-Mile-Yard sale takes place every year on Labor Day weekend in Benton County and is sponsored by The Benton Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.