By Joseph M. Morgan

joseph@southerntorch.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala.— The 18th Annual Hwy 11 Antique Alley Yard Sale kicked off yesterday, Thursday May 12 and will run through Sunday, May 15 along a 502-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 11 that comes right through the heart of DeKalb County between its starting place in Mississippi and the endpoint in Virginia.

The event was started by the Antique Alley Association and has grown significantly over the years, ultimately seen by many as a Spring version of the similar, but more renowned World’s Largest Yard Sale that is held each August.

Each year an estimated 30,000 shop along the 502 miles along U.S. Highway 11 at the Annual Antique Alley Yard Sale, an increase of more than 20,000 from the average of 10,000 back in 2002.

The yard sale starts in Meridian, Miss., then into Alabama through Birmingham, Gadsden, Attalla, Collinsville, and all the towns in between before coming right through downtown Fort Payne along Gault Avenue. North of Fort Payne the route crosses into Dade County, Georgia, then on to Chattanooga, Tenn., through Knoxville, and finally ending in Bristol, Va.

Each town along the route plans its own events such as community festivals, antique sales, flea markets, yard sales and carnivals, and countless other activities. The towns of Collinsville, Fort Payne and Valley Head and residents from all over DeKalb County take part in the annual event each year, with numerous sellers and vendors grouped strategically at areas in each community.