Community Yard Sale

The Hanover Community Yard Sale is a joint effort between the Recycling/Waste Reduction Team of Sustainable Hanover and the Office of Sustainability at Dartmouth. It advances part of the missions for both which is to encourage folks to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

First held in 2010, the Community Yard Sale developed in response to 1) the need for incoming graduate students and local community members to access affordable household and personal goods and 2) the need for local residents and employees to clean out unused but usable items without having to hold individual sales.

The Community Yard Sale now brings together over 100 sellers, including several local non-profits as well as returning and first time individuals, and thousands of buyers from throughout the Upper Valley. (Note: This sale is not appropriate for dealers or sellers specializing in a single type of item.)

Since 2011 (with a two year break due to COVID), the Community Yard Sale has been held on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend in Dartmouth’s Lower Dewey Parking Lot. There are 124 spaces available to rent on a first come first served basis. Sellers can register for one or two spaces (pre-registration required).

Many volunteers, including Hanover High School Students involved with Youth-In-Action, contribute to the success and smooth running of this Sale. We are grateful for the essential help provided by these volunteers, the Town, and Dartmouth College.

We thank Susan Edwards for her leadership role from inception through 2022.

The Hanover Community Yard Sale is open to all members of the public. Everyone is welcome to access affordable and useful items and perhaps discover treasures they never knew they needed. Many buyers leave with happy smiles!

Clean Out Unused But Usable Stuff

Local non-profits, residents, and employees have the opportunity to clean out unused but usable goods. Sellers often feature the toys, sports equipment and clothing their children have outgrown. They are sometimes downsizing and/or moving.

Minimize Hassle

Sellers avoid the hassle of finding a suitable sale location, advertising, and setting up their own venue. In addition, the Community Yard Sale is organized such that sellers can drive right up to the space from which they wish to display their items and park their vehicle adjacent to it, facilitating unloading and loading. The Sale is held rain or shine.

Make Money

Sellers have equal access to thousands of buyers, some who are there for the first time and others who attend every year. Sellers set their own prices and keep whatever they make in sales. Their only cost is the $25 registration fee for each of the one or two spots that they reserve. (An additional check in the amount of $25 serves as a deposit for each spot and is returned once sellers have cleared their space after the sale.)

Sustain the Environment

The Community Yard Sale is a low carbon way to acquire needed goods while keeping useful items out of the landfill. In addition, all proceeds from the rental of sale space support the work of Sustainable Hanover.

Have Fun

Sellers, buyers, volunteers, and organizers enjoy the community connection -- seeing old and meeting new friends -- while doing good work. The Community Yard Sale is fun and a win-win for everyone!

Sellers, if you wish to rent space, you must pre-register by filling out this Registration Form. Detailed information for sellers is on page two of the form.

Shoppers and bargain hunters, if you are searching for affordable items or yet-to-be-discovered treasures and the opportunity to schmooze with others at the same time, show up at Dartmouth’s Lower Dewey Parking Lot on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend between 10 am and 2 pm.

Volunteers, if you’d like to join a great team to ensure a fun and successful day for all, please email Sustainable Hanover. We will appreciate your help!

Congratulations! You have joined many others who are keeping useful goods in circulation, keeping them out of landfill, and creating a more sustainable future. Your actions will inspire others to do the same! Thank you!