MADISON COUNTY — The Markleville Community Park sits right on State Road 38.
Its location, just west of town at 2649 State Road 38, makes the park an ideal location for area residents who want to set up shop for the 15th Annual Highway 38 Sale.
The yearly event takes place Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5, in Markleville and other places throughout Madison County and surrounding areas.
The sale runs from Noblesville through New Castle — with concentrated points along the way, including Markleville and Pendleton — and shoppers can find mile after mile of rummage opportunities.
Betty Weist of Markleville has been taking part in the event for years. She was first a vendor selling items, but now she works with a local women’s group, Psi Phi Chapter of Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, to help make sure local vendors have meals and everything else they need.
Weist helped come up with the idea to have Markleville residents gather in one place to sell their items. The vendors rent a spot for $10, with the proceeds going toward park maintenance. The sale hours in Markleville will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
“It’s always a lot of fun, but you never know about the weather the first week of May,” she said with a laugh.
Organizers have welcomed as many as 63 vendors in years past and are hoping for another large turnout this year.
The Pendleton Business Association sponsors the sale in Pendleton, where the Highway 38 Sale is a major event for the association as well as local residents looking to make deals.
This is one of the major business events the PBA organization sponsors throughout the year, with the Fall Festival and Christmas in Pendleton being the others.
Kathi Meyer from Wine, Love & Joy, 6160 S. Hunter’s Run is leading the Highway 38 Sale for the PBA.
It’s the first time she’s been involved with helping coordinate the event for the local business vendors, but she expects it to be a good time.
“It’s fun to be able to bring people along the path together,” she said.
The PBA is asking association members to help sponsor the event for $150. The cost will allow members to have their business name placed on four poster boards around town.
The Highway 38 Sale through Pendleton will have different times than the one through Markleville. The Pendleton Highway 38 Sale will take place from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Friday, May 4, and then from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5. Non-business vendors along the route, not in town, may have different, individual hours.
Visitors will be able to take part in crafts and rummage sales, stop to eat at the food vendors, as well as check out the downtown shops.
For vendor details, visit www.pendletonin.org. The event takes place rain or shine.