The Historic Highway 80 Sale, also known as the “World’s Widest Yard Sale,” will be hitting the streets of Selma next Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20, for the 12th year in a row.

Bo Morgan, from his vantage point at Angie’s Auction, a centerpiece of the annual picking event, is looking forward to the scores of people that will look through various vendors wares over the coming weekend.

“It’s a big thing for Selma,” Morgan said. “It’s a real boost.”

Morgan said that his location usually sees around 2,000 people during the sale, which runs from Texas to Georgia along Highway 80.

“Even on our slowest weekend, we’ll still see 800 to 1,200 people come,” Morgan said. “It’s pretty consistent. For Selma, that’s pretty good.”

Morgan noted that people within about a 300-mile radius travel to Selma for the event each year.

Morgan said the event launched in Texas about 40 years ago and made its way to Alabama a little over a decade ago.

“We’ve been doing it ever since,” Morgan said.

In those early days of the sale, the state took on much of the responsibility of promoting and supporting the event, but those days have come and gone.

“It’s all up to us little guys to keep it going,” Morgan said. “And we will.”

The first year the event hit the Queen City’s streets, only four people were involved – this year’s event features 15 different sites and, according to Morgan, there will likely be many more involved.

At Angie’s Auction, which has sold out of vending space for the event, some vendors have traveled from as far away as South Carolina to take part in the sale.

“It’s grown really good,” Morgan said. “People really look forward to it.”

Morgan said people can expect to find “just what you find at a regular flea market,” with items as low as $1 to as high as $5,000 and everything in between.

According to Morgan, committed pickers from all over the country make the voyage to take part.

Among the local businesses involved in this year’s event are Selma Flea Market, Heritage Village, Marion Junction Country Club, Junebugg’s Flea and Antique Mall and more.

For more information or to inquire about available vending space, contact Morgan at 334-412-0263 or contact the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism at 334-875-7241.