GRAFTON — A Fall Festival Tag Sale benefiting the Volunteer Fire Department will take place - rain or shine - on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the firehouse at 711 Route 121 East.
Over the 38 years the Grafton Fire/Rescue Auxiliary has conducted this sale, it has developed a reputation for variety, quality, and numerous bargains to be found.
Like many small rural volunteer fire departments, the Grafton Fire Department is not fully funded by the town, which makes the Fall Festival Sale an important source of revenue to meet their budgeted needs.
This year, some of the money raised is specifically earmarked to replace outdated SCBA air tanks (Scott Air-Paks).
Locals and visitors line up early to access the four-bay firehouse, 75-foot tent, and lawn sale areas to search through well-organized displays of furniture, linens, toys, small appliances, housewares, books, recordings, tools, and much more.
“People are known to shop both days since most remaining items will be sold for half price on Sunday,” event organizers write in a news release.
The organizers describe an “exciting new feature” of this year's sale, which will imbue a more festival-like atmosphere to the festivities: the introduction of crafters and artisans and their work.
Also new this year will be a raffle of specially-donated items “that wouldn't ordinarily be available at the sale,” the organizers write.
As always, the Grafton School Parent-Teacher Group will be on hand Saturday with hot coffee, pastries, cold drinks, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, side dishes, and baked goods. On Sunday, the Auxiliary will have coffee and pastries available.
“And of course it wouldn't be a firefighters' event without a full display of the ladder truck, engine, UTV, and rescue truck accompanied by numerous volunteer firefighters to answer questions,” the organizers write.