2017 Lancaster County Mud Sale Schedule
Each year, a cycle of special auctions called mud sales kicks off in the late winter/early spring months in the Lancaster County area.
Mud sales have been a tradition in the community for generations. From a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on the sales:
The mud sales were started about 50 years ago, in part to give local farmers a chance to obtain new or used equipment as planting season approached. The name comes from the seasonal change from winter to spring, as the frozen ground, in most rural areas not covered with grass, stones or asphalt, begins to thaw and turn muddy.
The auctions are key to helping the local fire companies stay in operation:
Mud sales serve another major purpose — giving volunteer fire companies around the county a chance to do the bulk of their yearly fundraising. The companies serve small towns such as Airville, Bird-in-Hand, Gap, Strasburg and Honeyville.
Amish, many of whom volunteer on fire companies, heavily support the sales.
Here are some photos of previous year’s mud sales – Bart Township Fire Company in 2014, Airville (York County) in 2014, Gratz (Dauphin County) in 2015, and Gordonville in 2013.
There’s also last year’s Bart Township sale (you might get a kick out of the first photo there in particular).
If you’d like to attend, this year’s first event takes place at Strasburg Fire Company on February 25th.
The mud sales run into the summer, with one or two even happening in autumn. There are about two dozen events.
Here’s the full schedule (thanks to dicoverlancaster.com):
Lancaster County Area Mud Sales – 2017
February 25, 2017
Strasburg Spring Consignment & Mud Sale
Strasburg Fire Company
203 Franklin Street, Strasburg, PA 17572
717-687-7232
strasburgfire.com
March 4, 2017
Bart Township Auction & Mud Sale
Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Road, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-3348
bart51.com
March 11, 2017
Gordonville Spring Mud Sale & Auction
Gordonville Fire Company
Old Leacock Road, Gordonville, PA 17566
717-768-3869
43fireems.com
March 16, 2017
Farmersville Mud Sale
Famersville Volunteer Fire Company
74 East Farmersville Road, Ephrata, PA 17522
717-354-5094
farmersvillefire.com
March 18, 2017
Penryn Volunteer Fire Company Sale
Penryn Volunteer Fire Company
1441 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA 17545
717-664-2825
penrynfire.com
March 18, 2017
Airville Volunteer Fire Company Mud Sale
Airville Volunteer Fire Company
3576 Delta Road, Airville, PA 17602
717-862-3806
avfc55.com
March 25, 2017
Gap Fire Company Mud Sale & Auction
Gap Fire Company
802 Pequea Avenue, Gap, PA 17527
610-593-2480
gapfire.org
March 2017
West Earl Fire Company Quilt & Consignment Auction
West Earl Fire Company
14 School Lane Avenue, Brownstown, PA 17508
717-989-5986
westearlfire.org
April 1, 2017
Robert Fulton Sale
Robert Fulton Volunteer Fire Company
2271 Robert Fulton Highway (Routes 272 & 222), Peach Bottom, PA 17563
717-548-8995
513rffc.com
April 8, 2017
Rawlinsville Mud Sale
Rawlinsville Volunteer Fire Company
33 Martic Heights Drive, Holtwood, PA 17532
717-284-3023
rvfd58.com
May 2017
Fivepointville Auction
Fivepointville Fire Company
1087 Dry Tavern Road, Denver, PA 17517
717-445-4933
fivepointvillefire.net
May 13, 2017
Honey Brook Quilt Sale & Consignment Auction
Honey Brook Fire Company
Romano 4H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344
610-273-2688
honeybrookfire.org
May 20, 2017
Weaverland Valley Mud Sale
Weaverland Valley Fire Company
Terre Hill Community Park, 210 Lancaster Avenue, Terre Hill, PA 17528
717-445-7066
weaverlandvalleyfire.com
June 2017
Kinzer Fire Company Mud Sale
Kinzer Volunteer Fire Company
3521 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30), Kinzer, PA
717-442-4121
kinzerfire.com
June 22 & 23, 2017
Lancaster County Carriage & Antique Auction
Bird-in-Hand Volunteer Fire Company
313 Enterprise Drive, Bird in Hand, PA 17505
717-392-0112
birdinhandauction.com
June 30, 2017
Refton Fire Company Mud Sale
Refton Volunteer Fire Company
99 Church Street, Refton, PA 17568
717-786-9462
refton59fire.com
August 12, 2017
Gap Relief Auction
Solanco Fairgrounds
172 South Lime Street, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-687-9470
reliefsales.mcc.org/sales/gap-relief-auction
August 2017
Intercourse Fire Company Consignment Auction
Intercourse Fire Company
10 North Hollander Road, Intercourse, PA 17534
717-768-3402
intercoursefire.com
August 26, 2017
Bareville Fire Company Consignment Auction
Bareville Volunteer Fire Company
211 East Main Street, Leola, PA 17540
717-656-7554
barevillefire.com
September 2017
Strasburg Fall Consignment & Mud Sale
Strasburg Fire Company
203 Franklin Street, Strasburg, PA 17572
717-687-7232
strasburgfire.com
September 9, 2017
Christiana Antique & Craft Auction
Christiana Fire Company
214 South Bridge Street, Christiana, PA 17509
610-593-2124
christianafire.com
September 2017
Gordonville Fall Mud Sale & Auction
Gordonville Fire Company
Old Leacock Road, Gordonville, PA 17566
717-768-3869
43fireems.com
October 28, 2017
Cochranville Fire Company Mud Sale
Cochranville Volunteer Fire Company
3135 Limestone Road Cochranville, PA
610-593-5800
cochranvillefire.com
Mud Sales and other things
Erik, many thanks for this! You are a wonder, really! A true ambassador for greater understanding of this fascinating culture! May you continue to find joy and pleasure in all that you do!
mud sale/quilts
I love quilts and spend most of my time at the quilt auction when attending a mud sale. Which mud sale has the most quilts?
My wife, and I, will be returning to my roots in early October (1st – 4th)(“my roots? I’ve been told, probably humorously, that I’m related to everyone in Lancaster County… I’d be happy to share this information if you are interested.) Looking at the Mud Sale Calendar, it appears we will miss them all. Is there any possibility there is a website, or on-line viewing, where I might view sales and participate long-distance from California? AHKing