The 50-mile long garage sale along Route 90, now in its 22nd consecutive year, has taken on a life of its own. The garage sale that just kept growing and growing has become an annual tradition.

On Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27, thousands of bargain hunters will be drawn to that 54-mile ribbon of highway along the east side of Cayuga Lake. It officially begins along Route 90 in Montezuma and ends in Homer.

“A lot of people set up on Friday night now,” said Connie Tallcot, a former sale organizer. Once people started cruising along Route 90 on Friday night, she said, sellers began to put their wares out early, so more people came on Friday night to get the best buys.

Tallcot said the idea for a garage sale came as a result of the Small Business Association's efforts to get people to come to the east side of Cayuga Lake rather than just following the wine trail on the west side. Route 90 merchants hoped to promote the corridor parallel to Cayuga Lake.

“We tried a treasure hunt, a car rally and a photo contest, and we found that the garage sale was the most productive,” Tallcot said. “People got money for their stuff and the association didn't ask for anything. We supplied plastic flags the first year to pay for our advertising, but it got too big too fast.

“The first and second years were the best by far,” Tallcot said. “The antiques were phenomenal.” She said by the 12th year she thought it would be the last, but the garage sale just kept going.

Non-profits such as the Girl Scouts, the fire departments, Lions Clubs and the King Ferry Rotary all were able to benefit from these sales. Gas stations, grocery stores and eateries also appreciated increases in sales. And Route 90 residents were able to clear their attics and closets.

A list of people willing to have vendors set up on their lawns used to be available, and property owners could charge what they wanted. Now it's a sort of hit-and-miss operation.

This event drew so many people and the items sold varied so much in the past that it was impossible to tally the number of visitors, much less take any kind of inventory. The road stretching from Montezuma (Aztec chief) to Homer (Greek poet) might well contain artifacts from either culture in the hodge-podge of heaped-up stuff.

Bargain hunters, undaunted by the chaotic arrangement of castoffs, even traveled from outside the state just for the sale.

“People automatically know it's the last weekend in July,” Tallcot said. The garage sale is usually the busiest on Saturday. Sunday, although more low key, may not have the best bargains after everyone has sifted through the merchandise.

The Small Business Association has since dissolved, and Tallcot has moved from the Route 90 area, so no one is now in charge.

The Montezuma Fire Department Auxiliary will be holding a chicken barbecue at its firehouse. Several fire departments along the road plan to hold barbecues and other sales for fundraisers.

Even though Tallcot is no longer directly involved, her mantra remains the same.

“Everyone needs to drive carefully and walk carefully,” she said. “Everyone will have a good time as long as everyone stays safe.”

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net

If you go

What: 50-mile-long garage sale

When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and July 27

Where: Route 90 from Montezuma to Homer

Cost: Free

Info: Call 255-1685