Bargain hunters will hit the streets of Skaneateles this weekend for one of the village's biggest sale days of the year.

Beginning Thursday, Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets will become an open-air mall for the Skaneateles Curbstone Festival. Through Saturday, dozens of local merchants will set up tables along the sidewalks under tents and offer some special deals to all who pass by.

Village stores will sell clothing, accessories, houseware items, stationary and food during the annual event, which dates back more than 30 years. There will also be tents for local nonprofit organizations to educate the public about their services, Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Dove said Monday.

Dove said entertainers the Jackman Twins will provide balloon art and magic tricks, and children can play in inflatable bouncing houses.

There will also be music from the Skaneateles Community Band on Friday evening. And a group of young, local musicians called The Scavengers will perform at various times and places over the weekend as part of the event, Dove said. Their name is meant to stand for Skaneateles Village Entertainers Generating Environmental Retail Support.

“We try to make it fun so the whole family can have a good time,” Dove said.

But the main reason for the festival, Dove said, is the shopping. Popular Skaneateles boutiques often have special items and events in and around their stores through the weekend. There are plenty of bargains to be had, said Dove, who estimated that about 40 businesses will participate in this year's street fair

“It definitely has a life of its own, and people come out for it,” Dove said. “There are families who plan their vacations around this week.”

There are a few changes in this year's Curbstone Festival that has helped expand it a bit, she said.

The Milfoil Monster will be on the prowl for one, she said. The monster is a new creation by Skaneateles Lake advocacy group Skaneateles Milfoil Fighters, and it is meant to teach about preventing the spread of the invasive plant, Eurasian Milfoil.

Also new for this year's event is the fact that any member of the chamber of commerce can set up a table and tent. In past years, Dove said, you had to be a paying member of both the chamber and the merchants association.

That is no longer the case, since the two organizations merged.

“Now, everyone is included,” Dove said.

Christopher Caskey

253-5311 ext. 282

christopher.caskey@

lee.net.

If You Go.

What: Skaneateles Curbstone Festival

When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets, Skaneateles

Info: visit

www.skaneateles.com

Where to Shop.

Businesses and organizations participating in the Curbstone Festival:

• Imagine

• The Country Ewe

• White Sleigh

• Cate & Sally

• Cate & Sally Fresh

• Aristocats and Dogs

• Pomodoro

• Chestnut Cottage

• Skaneateles Furs

• Roland's Men's, Boy's and • Girl's Wear

• Rhubarb

• 5 on Jordan Men's Shoppe

• Paris Flea

• Bijou

• Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce

• Skaneateles Jewelry

• Finger Lakes Photography

• Pomodoro Too

• Bluewater Grill

• Doug's Fish Fry

• Johnny Angel's

• Anyela's Vineyards

• Skaneateles Town Square

• Skaneateles Artisans

• Creekside Books & Coffee

• Riddlers

• Audrey Long Clothes, on the lawn at the Sherwood Inn

• Mirbeau Inn and Spa, at M&T Bank Thursday and Friday only

• Skaneateles Antique Center

• 1st National Gifts

• Kindergarden

• Fleur-De-Lis Florist

• Vermont Green Mountain

• Champions for Life, at the library

• Skaneateles High School Swimming and Diving Team, on the lawn at M&T Bank

• The Milfoil Eradication Project, in front of Village Hall

P All participants will be at the location of their business or organization unless otherwise specified

Source: Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce