Sidewalk sale will feature 100s of vendors

WARWICK — The Warwick Merchants Guild has invited over 100 vendors to participate in the annual Sidewalk Sale, scheduled for Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13.

Not all are expected to accept that invitation but Tim Mullally, co-owner of Style Counsel/Blue and chair of the event, anticipates that many will, making this year's July sale bigger and better than ever.

The sale will be open to non-competing outside vendors as well as participating merchants. And non-profit, civic and religious organizations are also invited to participate free of charge.

Literacy Orange will hold a used book sale on Railroad Green on Saturday and Sunday during the Sidewalk Sale.

Literacy Orange is a not-for-profit agency, based in Middletown, dedicated to raising the literacy rate in the community through one-to-one or small group adult tutoring.

According to Executive Director Christine Rolando, one in five Orange County adults lacks the English literacy skills needed to succeed as a parent, worker or citizen. "And," she added, "we are not just talking about people for whom English is a second language."

To help support Literacy Orange's book sale, the merchants are asking people to donate used books, in good condition. The books should be delivered to Ye Olde Warwick Book Shoppe at 31 Main St. in the Village of Warwick.

And by popular demand, there will be another two-pound pie eating contest this year. There will actually be two contests, one for adults and another for kids under 12. The contests, sponsored by Noble Pies, will be held Sunday, July 13, on Railroad Green at 1 p.m.

Both groups will be allowed 10 minutes to wolf down their pies, but if previous contests are any indication, the winner will most likely complete the task in less than four minutes. The winners of each division will win one free pie per month at Noble Pies for three months. And besides the contest pie, everyone who enters will also receive a coupon for a free coffee at Noble Pies Café, 38 Main St., in Warwick.

The pie eating contest entrance fee is $5 for adults and $2 for those under 12. All proceeds will go to Literacy Orange.

Mullally, who has been coordinating this event for 20 years, explained that participating shop owners use the Sidewalk Sale as a way to clear out old stock, promote new items with incentive prices and also meet new customers and greet old ones.

The annual Sidewalk Sale is hosted by the Warwick Merchants Guild with local shops and eateries contributing to fund the event.

Vendors who do not sell merchandise available at local shops may participate during the entire weekend for a fee of $75.

For information, contact Tim Mullally at 845-986-9588.