When are the mud sales in Lancaster County? (Jump to full2024 Mud Sale Schedule)
2024 Mud Sale Guide (22 Sales)
The Lancaster County mud sale schedule for 2024 is now available, with the first event happening just over a week from now (February 23 & 24 at Strasburg Fire Company). 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.
Jump to: 2024 Lancaster County Mud Sale Calendar
What is a mud sale?
Why is it called “mud sale”?
The mud sale experience: What is it like to attend a sale?
How many mud sales are there each year?
Mud Sale Photos
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.
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 Companybenefit 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).
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.
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 quiltsalewas fun to watch, with a mix of Amish women bidding on tops they would finish and re-sellI 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.”
When 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.”
Finally, this short video by Mark Pynes/Penn Live also gives a great feel for mud sales:
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.
How many mud sales are there?
In 2024, 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.
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
2024 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 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 2024
February 23 & 24
Strasburg Fire Company
203 Franklin Street, Strasburg, PA 17572
717-687-7232
Friday (Feb. 23) start time: 4pm
Saturday (Feb. 24) start time: 8am
March 2024
March 2
Bart Township Fire Company
11 Furnace Road, Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-3348
Auction start time: 8am
March 8 and 9
Pequea Valley Fire Department/Gordonville Mud Sale
3204 Vigilant St./Old Leaco*ck Road, Gordonville, PA 17529
717-768-3869
pvfd40.com or https://www.facebook.com/gordonvillesale/
March 15 & 16
Penryn Fire Company
1441 N. Penryn Road, Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-2535
penrynfire.com
Friday (Mar. 15) start time: 12pm
Saturday (Mar. 16) start time: 8am
March 16
West Earl Fire Company Consignment & Quilt Auction
14 School Lane Avenue, Brownstown, PA 17508
717-656-6791
https://www.facebook.com/westearlfire/
Auction start time: 8am
March 16
Airville Volunteer Fire Company
3576 Delta Road, Airville, PA 17302
717-862-3806
lanc.news/Airville24
Auction start time: 8:30am
March 22
Farmersville Fire Company
74 E. Farmersville Road, Ephrata, PA 17522
717-354-5841
farmersvillefire.com
Auction start time (Friday auction): 4:30pm
March 22 & 23
Gap Fire Company
Houston Run Corporate Center, 835 Houston Run Drive, Gap, PA 17527
717-442-8100
facebook.com/GFC42
Friday (Mar. 22) start time: 5pm
Saturday (Mar. 23) start time: 8am
April 2024
April 6
Robert Fulton Fire Company
2271 Robert Fulton Highway (Routes 272 and 222), Peach Bottom, PA 17563
717-548-2531
facebook.com/rffc89
Auction start time: 8am
April 12 & 13
Rawlinsville Fire Company
33 Martic Heights Dr, Holtwood, PA 17532
717-284-3023
facebook.com/RVFC58
Friday (Apr. 12) start time: 5pm
Saturday (Apr. 13) start time: 7am
April 20
Schoeneck Fire Company
125 N King St, Denver, PA 17517
717-336-6767
schoeneckfire.com
Auction start time: 9am
May 2024
May 3 and 4
Fivepointville Fire Company
1078 Dry Tavern Road, Denver, PA 17517
717-445-4933
fivepointvillefire.net
Friday (May 3) start time: 6:30pm
Saturday (May 4) start time: 8am
May 3 and 4
Gratz Fire Company
601 E Market St, Gratz, PA 17030
717-365-3121
May 11
Honey Brook Fire Company
679 Firehouse Lane, Honey Brook, PA 19344
610-273-2688
honeybrookfire.org
Auction start time: 8:30am
May 17 & 18
Weaverland Valley Fire Department
Weaverland Produce Auction, 1030 Precast Road, New Holland, PA 17557
717-445-5072
https://www.facebook.com/p/Weaverland-Valley-Fire-Department-100064310066815/
Friday (May 17) start time: 6pm
Saturday (May 18) start time: 8am
June 2024
June 8
Pequea Valley Fire Department/Kinzer Mud Sale
3521 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, PA 17535
pvfd40.com
June 21 & 22
Refton Fire Company
99 Church St., Refton, PA 17568
717-786-9462
facebook.com/ReftonFireCompany
June 27 & 28
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
Thursday (Jun. 27) start time: 3pm
Friday (Jun. 28) start time: 8am
Note: times may change. Confirm at the source.
August 2024
August 9 & 10
Gap Relief Auction
Solanco Fairgrounds, Park Avenue, Quarryville, PA 17566
mcc.org/events/gap-relief-auction
Friday (Aug. 9) start time: 7:15pm
Saturday (Aug. 10) start time: 8:30am
Note: unlike other events listed here, this sale benefits not a fire company but distaster relief organization Mennonite Central Committee
August 24
Bareville Fire Company
211 E. Main St., Leola, PA 17540
717-656-7554
barevillefire.com
September 2024
September 21
Pequea Valley Fire Department/Gordonville Fall Sale
3204 Vigilant St./Old Leaco*ck Road, Gordonville, PA 17529
717-768-3869
facebook.com/gordonvillesale
October 2024
October 26
Cochranville Fire Company
3135 Limestone Road, Cochranville, PA 19330
610-593-5800
