2025 Amish Mud Sale Schedule (Lancaster County & More)
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2025 Mud Sale Guide (22 Sales)
When are the mud sales in Lancaster County? The Lancaster County mud sale schedule for 2025 is now available, with the first event happening soon (February 21 & 22 at Strasburg Fire Company).
- What is a “Mud Sale”?
- How did it get the name “Mud Sale”?
- The Mud Sale Experience: What’s it like to attend?
- Where & when do Mud Sales happen?
- How many Mud Sales are there each year?
- Mud Sale Photos
- 2025 Lancaster County Mud Sale Calendar
These Amish-heavy events draw members of the community and outside visitors in support of the local volunteer fire companies. Many have large numbers of Plain volunteers (Amish & Mennonites) on their rosters.

1. What is a mud sale?
A mud sale is an opportunity to enjoy an Amish-attended auction event, eat tasty auction food, and maybe buy something interesting. Buggies, quilts, farm equipment, crafts, tools, furniture, antiques, horses, and more are sold at mud sales.
Proceeds from these events go to support the local volunteer fire company. So by attending these lively events you’re also supporting the community – specifically, an important civic institution backed by both Plain and non-Plain residents.

In the video below, John Stoltzfus of Strasburg Fire Company explains how the sales work.
In a nutshell: people bring items for sale, and the fire companies get a commission from each sale. Proceeds from mud sales typically account for around one-third of a fire company’s annual budget.
2. Why is it called “mud sale”?
The name “mud sale” comes from the condition of the area fields due to the spring thaw. The tradition dates back to the 1960s as detailed in this article:
The mud sales were started about [60] 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 tradition started with the Bart Township Fire Company benefit auction, the oldest of the mud sales. The sales are typically held in farmers’ fields, so if you have muck boots or other suitable shoes, you might want to bring them along.
That’s especially the case if you go to a mud sale happening in the actual winter-spring thaw period. The present-day mud sale calendar stretches into the summer and even autumn (there is at least one sale happening in every season of the year).

Many of them happen over two days, with different types of sales happening on each day. You may see them called “Amish mud sales“, but they are not Amish-exclusive events. Indeed you’ll see large crowds of both Amish and non-Amish people.
These are generally consignment auctions where people bring items for sale, with a percentage of the sale value going to the host fire company. Some mud sales have specific themes, like quilts or carriages.
3. The Mud Sale Experience
What is it like to attend a mud sale? Reader Rick shares some anecdotes from past mud sales, giving a feel for the events. This amusing anecdote is from a sale held at Rawlinsville:
“There were two little Amish boys, maybe 8-10, and you should have seen them laugh when they sold a yard sign of a dog going to the bathroom that had the word “No!” on it! A little later they bought this big Mexican sombrero for $2 I think – a little larger than the standard 3″ brim I suspect! I can imagine what their parents said!”
On a sale supporting Bart Township Fire Company:
“The quilt sale was fun to watch, with a mix of Amish women bidding on tops they would finish and re-sell I assume, and English – I believe the one woman bought several for $1000+.”
Reader Jerry commented the following on a past sale held at Gratz, PA. As Jerry suggests, experiences can vary:
“This quilt sold for $275. The horses sold very high and I thought the quilts sold too low. The quilts at this sale were some of the best I’ve seen. Some auctions have ugly quilts, but not here. I examined the workmanship and these quilts were excellent.”
This quilt sold for just $275 at a past mud sale. Photo: JerryWhen you attend a mud sale, you might have a chance to see young Amish and Mennonite boys playing the traditional game of cornerball (aka eck balle). This is a version of tag played with a hard ball about the size of baseball, but not as hard.
Teams take turns passing the ball around a square area laid with hay, and attempting to “tag” members of the opposite team within the square. Games can be intense, and attract sizeable crowds of spectators. For more on the rules and photos from a cornerball match, go here.

You might also notice young Amish boys with wagons at mud sales. Reader Lauren explains:
“There were dozens of Amish boys with wagons. An Amish friend told me that they use these wagons to haul purchases to people’s cars in exchange for a small tip.”

Here’s a short video I made of the Schoeneck Mud Sale, which I attended in April 2024:
Finally, this short video by Mark Pynes/Penn Live also gives a great feel for mud sales:
4. Where & when do mud sales happen?
This tradition originated in Lancaster County, and that is where the bulk of the mud sales take place today. However, a handful of mud sales do happen outside of Lancaster County, notably at Airville in York County.
The mud sale schedule typically begins with the first sale of the year at Strasburg in late February. Although they are associated with the spring thaw, mud sales technically start while it’s still winter.
The bulk of the auctions happen by spring’s end. However further sales are held in summer, and even autumn.

This is an annual happening and an important one for the region’s volunteer fire companies, which generate around one-third of their operating budget for the entire year over a single one-or-two-day event. The sales are held at the fire companies on the surrounding grounds.
5. How many mud sales are there?
In 2025, approximately 22 mud sales are scheduled to take place. The vast majority are held in Lancaster County, but several sales take place outside the county’s borders (in Chester County, York County and Dauphin County).
Outsiders are welcome to attend, and you can find an event in the schedule below that works for you. It’s a good opportunity to combine a mud sale with a visit to the Amish community in Lancaster County.

6. Mud Sale Photos
Check out these photos from past mud sales:
- Strasburg Mud Sale
- Gordonville Mud Sale
- Bart Township Fire Company Mud Sale
- Airville Mud Sale (York County)
- Gratz Mud Sale

2025 Mud Sale Calendar (Lancaster County & More)
Be sure to confirm the dates and times before traveling long distances to one of these events. Mud sales are typically held on Saturdays, while others may occur on both Friday and Saturday.
Certain types of items (eg, quilts, flowers, etc.) will often be sold at specific times, so check fire company websites for more details.
While changes are not too common (and this year’s schedule should certainly be more reliable than years past, when many sales were canceled due to COVID), you want to be sure of times before making a trip.
Phone numbers and each fire company’s website (when available) are listed as sources of further information.
Note: Some mud sales, especially those happening later in the year, may not yet have finalized start times, etc. Check back here and/or on the fire company’s site for further information as those dates get closer.
February 2025
February 21 & 22, 2025
Strasburg Fire Company
203 Franklin Street, Strasburg, PA 17572
717-687-7232
Friday (Feb. 21) start time: 4pm
Saturday (Feb. 22) start time: 8am
March 2025
March 1, 2025
Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Road, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-3348
March 7 and 8, 2025
Pequea Valley Fire Department aka Gordonville Mud Sale
3204 Vigilant St./Old Leacock Road, Gordonville, PA 17529
717-768-3869
pvfd40.com or https://www.facebook.com/gordonvillesale/

March 14 & 15, 2025
Penryn Fire Company
1441 N. Penryn Road, Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-2535
penrynfire.com or https://www.facebook.com/events/1231731224561748/
Friday (Mar. 15) start time: 12pm – 8:30 PM
Saturday (Mar. 16) start time: 8 AM – 3:30 PM
March 15, 2025
West Earl Fire Company Consignment & Quilt Auction
14 School Lane Avenue, Brownstown, PA 17508
717-656-6791
https://www.facebook.com/westearlfire/ or https://www.westearlfire.org/events/
Auction start time: 8 AM (Quilt Auction starts at 11 AM)
March 15, 2025
Airville Volunteer Fire Company
3576 Delta Road, Airville, PA 17302
717-862-3806
Auction start time: 8:30am
March 21 & 22, 2025 (TBC)
Gap Fire Company
Houston Run Corporate Center, 835 Houston Run Drive, Gap, PA 17527
717-442-8100
facebook.com/GFC42
March 28, 2025
Farmersville Fire Company
74 E. Farmersville Road, Ephrata, PA 17522
717-354-5841
farmersvillefire.com/666-2/
ORDER OF SALE: Inside @ 4:30, Outside @ 5:00 Shrubbery @ approx. 5:30 Quilts @ approx. 7:00
Cash or good PA check – Delicious food served by the Farmersville Ladies Auxiliary
April 2025
April 5, 2025
Robert Fulton Fire Company
2271 Robert Fulton Highway (Routes 272 and 222), Peach Bottom, PA 17563
717-548-2531
facebook.com/events/1343472393352926/
Auction start time: 8:15 AM
Note: RFFC also hosts a “clean-up” sale on April 10, and a horse sale on April 25 & 26.
April 11 & 12, 2025
Rawlinsville Fire Company
33 Martic Heights Dr, Holtwood, PA 17532
717-284-3023
facebook.com/events/915483057402962
Friday (Apr. 11) Start time: 5 PM
Saturday (Apr. 12) Start time: 8 AM
From Rawlinsville Fire Co.: “April 11th at 5:00pm we will be selling crafts, flowers and shrubs, and tools. April 12th we will be offering crafts, quilts, flowers, lawn and garden, groceries, building materials, new and used tools, sporting goods, and much much more! Good food will be available both days!”
April 19, 2025
Schoeneck Fire Company
125 N King St, Denver, PA 17517
717-336-6767
facebook.com/SchoeneckFireCompany/
May 2025
May 2 & 3, 2025
Gratz Fire Company
601 E Market St, Gratz, PA 17030
717-365-3121
facebook.com/gratzsale/
May 3, 2025
Fivepointville Fire Company
1078 Dry Tavern Road, Denver, PA 17517
717-445-4933
fivepointvillefire.net/annual-benefit-auction.html
Start time: 8 AM

May 10, 2025
Honey Brook Fire Company
Romano 4H Center
1841 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA 19344
610-273-2688
honeybrookfire.org
May 16 & 17, 2025
Weaverland Valley Fire Company
Terre Hill Community Park, 210 Lancaster Avenue, Terre Hill, PA 17528
717-445-5072
https://www.facebook.com/p/Weaverland-Valley-Fire-Department-100064310066815/
June 2025
June 6 & 7, 2025
Pequea Valley Fire Department / Kinzer Mud Sale
3521 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, PA 17535
pvfd40.com/content/kinzer/
June 26 & 27, 2025
Lancaster County Carriage and Antique Auction (benefits Bird-in-Hand Volunteer Fire Company)
338 N. Ronks Road, Bird in Hand, PA 17505
bihfire.com/events/auction OR facebook.com/BirdinHandAuction
June 27 & 28, 2025
Refton Fire Company
99 Church St., Refton, PA 17568
717-786-9462
facebook.com/ReftonFireCompany

August 2025
August 8 & 9, 2025
Gap Relief Auction
Solanco Fairgrounds, Park Avenue, Quarryville, PA 17566
mcc.org/events/gap-relief-auction
Friday (Aug. 8) Time: 4 PM – 9 PM
Saturday (Aug. 9) Time: 8 AM – 2 PM
Note: Unlike other events listed here, this sale benefits not a fire company but disaster relief organization Mennonite Central Committee: “Join an annual community celebration of generosity with food and a quilt and variety auction to support the relief, development and peace work of Mennonite Central Committee.”
August 23, 2025
Bareville Fire Company
211 E. Main St., Leola, PA 17540
717-656-7554
barevillefire.com/fundraisers/
September 2025
September 20, 2025
Pequea Valley Fire Department / Gordonville Fall Sale
3204 Vigilant St./Old Leacock Road, Gordonville, PA 17529
717-768-3869
facebook.com/gordonvillesale
October 2025
October 25, 2025
Cochranville Fire Company
3135 Limestone Road, Cochranville, PA 19330
610-593-5800


That looks like a lot of fun.
Wow, great post. I love reading your blog!
Thanks DJ!
Mud Sales
I love going to mud sales. I like the ones that support local Amish schools the best. Beaver Run up near Danville is my favorite and also the largest attracting over 5,000 people twice a year. The one in Gratz, Pa is also a spring favorite as well as the two in Perry County. Oh I can’t forget the one up near Mifflintown in August and Port Treveton in May. The one that I enjoy the most is the smallest up near Beaver Springs for the Jack Mountain Schools. That one is a really old order and the most interesting people show up. Bottom line….mud sales are good food and good bargins with fun people watching.
Mud sales
Do other states do mud sales or auctions? If so could you list those as well.
I’m with Ben, I hate auctions for all the same reasons!
But that’s so cool that he goes for his son.
Hi Erik, I hope it’s okay that I posted this on my Facebook Author page. I always enjoy reading your fabulous newsletters!
Kate Lloyd, author
Absolutely Kate, feel free to share! And thank you very much for the kind words 🙂