06/21/2026
Thirteen years ago, Simon and I took over organizing the Nanton Parade of Garage Sales, an event previously run by the Nanton Chamber of Commerce, with one simple goal: bring people into Nanton and support our residents, businesses, and community.
Reading comments from participants saying they welcomed visitors from Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks, Canmore, Cochrane, High River, Claresholm, Vulcan, Fort Macleod, and many other communities reminds us why we continue to do it. It's especially rewarding to hear from people who tell us they plan their calendars around this weekend every year because they know the Parade of Garage Sales is always worth the trip.
What many people don't see are the months of planning that go into making the event happen. From registering participants and creating maps, to marketing across Southern Alberta, managing social media, answering hundreds of questions, and coordinating every detail, there are countless hours invested behind the scenes. Seeing our community filled with visitors makes every one of those hours worthwhile.
This year was especially exciting because we had the opportunity to collaborate with so many organizations to create one unforgettable day in Nanton. Traditionally, the Show & Shine is held on Father's Day weekend. With Father's Day falling a week later this year, it presented a unique opportunity to combine our efforts and showcase everything our community has to offer on a single day.
Rather than competing for visitors, we worked together to create a larger attraction that benefited everyone involved. Visitors could spend the entire day exploring the Parade of Garage Sales, the Show & Shine, Bomber Command Museum events, National Indigenous Day celebrations, the Main Street Market, the Farmers Market, the Co****le Tournament, Grain Elevator tours and Paint & Sip, before finishing the evening at the Nanton Nite Rodeo.
The result was exactly what we had hoped for a vibrant community celebration that attracted visitors from across Southern Alberta, increased attendance at every event, brought more people through the doors of our local businesses, and showcased everything that makes Nanton such a wonderful place to visit. It was a great example of what can be achieved when organizations work together toward a common goal. Together, we created an experience that was far greater than any one event could have accomplished on its own.
A special thank you also goes to our Peace Officer, Carlos, who spent the day driving around town making announcements over his loudspeaker. His enthusiasm, friendly personality, and unmistakable style added a special charm that only Carlos can bring. He had people smiling wherever he went and helped create the welcoming atmosphere that makes Nanton so unique.
Thank you to everyone who registered a garage sale, every volunteer who gave their time, every organization that hosted an event, every visitor who chose to spend the day with us, and every local business that welcomed the extra traffic with open arms. Events like these are only successful because so many people are willing to work together for the benefit of the entire community.
And finally, a heartfelt thank you to Mother Nature. After months of planning, she's still the one who has the final say, and she certainly looked after us this year!
To everyone who helped make June 20 such an incredible success thank you. Your passion, hard work, and community spirit continue to make Nanton a destination people look forward to visiting year after year. We can't wait to welcome everyone back and make next year's Parade of Garage Sales even bigger and better.
Mark your calendars for June 19th next year!
Garage sale signs can be returned today from 2-4pm at our real estate office.
