News file photo of a person at a local garage sale.

ALPENA — Ahoy Treasure Hunters! What began as a community-wide garage sale organized by Arlis St. Charles in 2017 has grown into one of Northeast Michigan’s most anticipated summer traditions.

For nearly a decade, residents and visitors have spent a weekend exploring neighborhoods, hunting for treasures, visiting with friends, and discovering unique finds throughout Alpena. Along the way, we began noticing similar community-wide garage sale events in neighboring communities such as Presque Isle and Rogers City, highlighting the growing popularity of these treasure-hunting weekends throughout Northeast Michigan.

Current event coordinator Sarah Moe Melching remembers participating in multi-family garage sales long before she became involved in organizing the event.

“I remember having sales with Arlis’s daughters when we all worked together at Alpena Regional Medical Center back in the earlier 2000s,” Melching said. “We would spend the weekend laughing, visiting with shoppers, getting rid of treasures, and joking about the things we were parting with. There was always a funny story to tell.”

One recurring topic of conversation was shoes.

“For some reason, we always ended up talking about shoes,” Melching laughed. “There’s something fascinating about where a pair of shoes has been, why someone bought them, and why they’re finally ready to let them go.”

According to Melching, those memories represent what the Alpena Citywide Garage Sale has always been about — community connections, sharing stories, and bringing people together.

For eight years, St. Charles worked to keep that spirit alive while growing the event throughout the Alpena area. Earlier this year, however, she announced that she would be stepping away from organizing the sale.

Not wanting to see the tradition end, two community members reached out to St. Charles with the same idea.

“The sale must go on,” Melching said.

Those two individuals — Carol Rundell and Sarah Moe Melching — discovered they shared another connection. Like St. Charles and her daughters, they too had once worked together at Alpena Regional Medical Center.

Since February, Rundell and Melching have been working behind the scenes to transition the event and ensure participants continue receiving information through social media and other communication channels.

While maintaining many of the traditions that have made the sale successful, the new organizers have introduced several updates for 2026.

The sale will continue to be held on the last Friday and Saturday of June, but organizers have expanded social media outreach and introduced a new charitable giving component. This year, each sale registrant will have the opportunity to nominate two nonprofit organizations. One nonprofit receiving the most nominations will be selected to receive the event’s net proceeds.

Perhaps the most exciting addition is the introduction of a community-wide treasure hunt.

Four local restaurants have donated $50 gift cards that will be awarded to lucky treasure hunters during the event. Hidden treasure items will be placed throughout participating sales both inside and outside the city. Shoppers who discover one of the hidden treasures will receive a gift card to a local restaurant.

“We wanted to add another layer of fun and adventure for shoppers while encouraging people to visit as many sales as possible,” Rundell said.

The 9th Annual Alpena Citywide Garage Sale will take place Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27.

The registration deadline is Thursday, June 18, at 4:30 p.m. Registrations are being accepted at the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 235 W. Chisholm Street in Alpena.

The cost to participate is $15 for one day or $25 for both days. Cash only please.

Sales located outside Alpena city limits are welcome to participate, although they will not be included on the printed event map.

“Garage sales are about so much more than buying and selling things,” Melching said. “They’re about meeting people, sharing stories, finding unexpected treasures, and creating memories. We are excited to continue this tradition and help it grow for years to come.”

For additional information, visit the Alpena Citywide Garage Sale Facebook page.