This year’s Corn Fest is now underway. One event that always seems to draw a crowd is the Country Garage Sale.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the garage sale. It will also be the biggest one to date. With 78 families participating, there will be three full parking lots where bargain hunters can seek out just the right thing.

The sale will be held in the Farm Bureau parking lot on the corners of North Sixth and Oak streets. Booths are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but get there early to avoid the crowd.

“Usually there’s even a big crowd before 8 p.m.,” said Pat Moeller, one of the participants from Waterman.

The purpose of the garage sale is to bring together rural and city families alike. Ten years ago the DeKalb County Farm Bureau decided to bring rural families into the city to have a garage sale since it’s hard for people who don’t live in the city to have garage sales.

Mariam Wassmann, director of information of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, said, “This garage sale is unique because it involves both rural and urban families.”

Only members of the Farm Bureau can participate. There’s no charge for a booth, but you have to bring your own tables and cigar boxes for the money.

The sale will feature a wide variety of items from dishes to baseball cards, even antiques. You can find almost anything you want.

“Mainly my son will be selling baseball cards and golf balls,” Connie Rader of Sycamore said. “But I may be selling a couple of antiques.”

“It’s a nice way to get rid of things, make money and meet new people,” Moeller said.

Many of the participants have been taking part in it for years. This year drew in some new families as well.

Everyone agrees that the turnout’s always good. They’re expecting an especially large crowd this year.

“Lots of people work their way over from the Corn Fest. The crowds are always big, but hopefully this year’s will be even bigger due to the number of booths,” Wassmann said.

“There’s always a good turnout and I imagine this year will be the same,” said Mary Stark of DeKalb. “Hopefully the weather will be good.”

Be sure to stop by and look. Maybe you’ll find that poster that will look just right on your wall, a little knick-knack for your desk or even a good book to read. After all it’s cheap.