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Now in its 38th year, the sale sees thousands descend on vendors from Montezuma to Homer in search of deals every last weekend of July. 

On Saturday, Breen had an assortment of tools, decorations and more displayed on tables and shelves at a barn in Montezuma.

Like the people browsing what he was selling, Breen told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½» he can't pass up an opportunity to look for something special — then clean it up, repair it and sell it himself. 

"It's my blood to stop at a yard sale," Breen said. "I can't drive past one without stopping."

Helping Breen was Rich Donselaar, who sold an ice pick to Melissa Dugan and her son Josh. The two are from Homer, the other end of the sale, so they drove to Montezuma to start their search and work their way back. They come every year, Melissa told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½», and she loves talking to the vendors and the people out and about.

Marveling at a wine press that Breen described as a "museum piece," Rebecca Gesell found a copper bucket she planned to buy. She and her husband, Damian, who found some fishing gear, drove about 45 minutes from the hamlet of Plainsville for the event. They feel older goods at garage sales are often "better built" than what's on store shelves, they told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½».

"And this is the best way to reuse things and be sustainable in our environment," Rebecca said.

The couple said they believe the other shoppers at the sale also enjoy looking for things they didn't know they needed. 

"It's the enjoyment of finding one person's treasure," Damian said.

"It's the hunt," Rebecca added.

At the parking lot of the Montezuma Fire Department, Cecelia Hinds was on the lookout for bargains while sporting a Viking helmet. After her friend Caroline Seils showed her the headwear while they were out, Hinds sprung at the chance to get it. She added that the helmet's horns have cup holders and it comes equipped with a straw holder, which will be helpful on her upcoming vacation.

"And it's a conversation starter," Hinds told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½».

Seils noted that people come "from all over the Northeast" for the sale.

While she grabbed a large stuffed animal of the cartoon character Bluey for her 3-year-old nephew Benjamin Zotterilli, Hinds said she bought an entire patio set and two bicycles.

"I don't know how we're getting it home, but we bought it," she joked. Seils said they would come back with a truck.

"Sometimes we don't have a plan, sometimes we're not even looking for something," Seils said. "But a lot of times we just go out and we get stuff that we don't even need."

At a sale Josh Baliva hosted on his front yard, Paul and Susan Pitcher had several items waiting for new owners, such as knives from Paul's collection and a 54-inch Cub Cadet riding mower.

Paul told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½» they have a couple storage sheds at their home full of stuff they haven't used in a decade. They have been selling what they don't need at the sale for three years, with inventory in the sheds slowly dwindling over time. Paul said people are often able to nab whatever they're looking for at the sale. 

"Within these 50 miles," he said, "you're going to find what you need."