Mud Sales in Lancaster County

posted on April 24, 2015

Volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania save local municipalities and the Commonwealth around $6 billion annually in avoided costs. Much of this comes because they do their own fundraising. The predominant fundraiser for volunteer fire companies in Lancaster County is the mud sale, a unique concept conceived in the 1960s that has continued ever since. They are cultural events fittingly named for the muddy ground that usually manifests itself around the time of year in which they occur. Read on for details of the fun at Lancaster County mud sales.

Meet the Amish

One of the interesting and appealing aspects of mud sales is their inundation with Amish, who often outnumber “non-Amish”. It is a great opportunity to meet Amish and interact with their culture. Amish comprise a large proportion of many volunteer fire companies, and Amish serve as auctioneers at many mud sales. Moreover, the Amish are the vendors of many of the products available for purchase such as quilts, clothing, and tools.

Bargain Shopping in Lancaster

Mud sales afford visitors the opportunity to find a great deal. The Amish are noted for their haggling prowess, but also for their propensity to ultimately make the sale. With a bit of negotiation, it is easy to find a great price for a quality item, all for a great cause. Among the big ticket items for sale are quilts hand-made by Amish women’s sewing circles, a hot commodity.

Mud Sale Basics

Mud sales almost always begin by 8:30 AM, sometimes earlier – there is no time for messing around. They can draw crowds well into the thousands, sometimes even the tens of thousands. Get there early to find a suitable location to park (sometimes there is off-site parking and a shuttle that runs to the sale).

Fantastic Food

Of course, it would not be an event in Lancaster County if there were not excellent culinary options, namely Shoo-Fly Pie, chicken corn soup, and sticky buns or funnel cakes. There is no shortage of farm fare for patrons.