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05/09/2017 12:00 AMThe 25th annual Chester Town-wide Tag Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 27 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors from throughout the state and even beyond state lines are drawn to the annual event each year with a history of distributing hundreds of 11x17 maps leading shoppers to more than 60 sales.
“People come from all over and are driving all over town looking at the maps and having a fun day shopping,” said Kris Seifert, who is chairing the tag sale. “People also go downtown where they’re shopping at sidewalk sales and shops and enjoying the different restaurants downtown.”
Those looking to host a tag sale can be listed on a town-wide map as long as they submit their information and a $10 payment by Thursday, May 25. Seifert notes that residents and businesses look forward to the sale every year.
“People have fun cleaning out their closets and attics in preparation for tag sale,” said Seifert. “We have people who are cleaning out their parents’ homes and you are meeting new people moving into town. It’s fun for kids and you see lemonade and cookie stands pop up.”
Maps will be available for $1 at the Route 9 off ramps, in the town center, and at Moravela’s Pizzeria, 139 Middlesex Turnpike, Chester, beginning at 7 a.m. on the day of the sale, to direct shoppers to the many tag sales throughout town. In addition to listing the sites of tag sales on the map, local businesses can also purchase listings. Parking areas and public restrooms will also be noted.
“We have volunteers at all of the outer corners of town and in the center,” said Seifert. “It’s fun to see cars driving by with all of their finds in the backseat. You see families, groups of friends, and guys in pickup trucks loaded to the brim. Some people even walk from downtown because there are so many in downtown area.”
Sosse Baker of Chester Gallery came up with the idea for the event in the 1990s, according to Seifert. For many years, the Chester Merchants ran the event with the Chester Historical Society beginning to help in 2003. For the past five years, the Chester Republican Committee has organized the Chester Town-Wide Tag Sale and proceeds benefit its general fund.
Seifert, a member of the Chester Republican Committee, was happy to not only give the group a fundraiser, but to also continue to beloved town tradition. She also enjoys helping people discover the downtown merchants and restaurants.
“It’s a fun event that brings so much into town for the merchants and those hosting sales,” said Seifert. “It promotes the downtown big time. During the day, you start with a cup of coffee from one of the local places, go to tag sales, then stop and have lunch and check out the sidewalk sales. Everybody, everywhere knows Chester as a nice little quaint historical downtown area. This is something people look forward to every year.”
For information, email kris.seifert@gmail.com or phone 860-526-8440 or 714-878-9658. Listing forms are also available at LARK! in the downtown center and online at chesterrtc.org/Fundraising.html.