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VIDALIA, La. — This weekend, the Miss Lou communities offer people from all over the opportunity to add more junk to their trunks and unique presents under their Christmas trees as antique and thrift stores offer discounts for the Fall Junkin on the River.

This marks the fourth year of Junkin on the River and each year it seems to grow bigger and bigger, said one of the event founders Danielle Nelson, who also owns Bless This Mess in Vidalia.

The event, which happens in both the Spring and Fall, attracts visitors from all over the region and has become one of the region’s largest retail sales events, Nelson said.

“We had the interest of over 10,000 people in seven or eight states,” she said. “Last spring in Vidalia it looked like something crazy was happening. We had people parking at the grocery stores and walking down the streets.”

The reason Junkin on the River started was to help out small businesses, she said.

“Everywhere was doing these vendor markets and the concept of this was to get people in the doors of our stores,” she said. “Several businesses have used it as their nest egg and see some of their most sales during Junkin. Speaking for Bless This Mess, it’s one of our busiest days throughout the year. It’s all about helping small businesses.”

Nelson said local RV Parks and hotels have booked solid for the weekend and some have already booked out for this Spring’s Junkin event. Nelson attributes this growing popularity to good marketing and the south and Miss-Lou area in particular being a popular area for thrifting.

“Some new businesses have popped up here and there but we’ve had a lot of the same businesses participating throughout the entire four-year period,” she said.

The 2025 dates of Junkin on the River are April 4 and 5 and Oct. 10 and 11.

Junkin on the River includes 25 different stores in both Natchez and Vidalia. To know where these are, simply follow the red and white balloons or the map posted on the Junkin on the River social media. The map also includes helpful notes like where ATM’s are, where the information station is, and places to eat and rest.

“People like the thrill of the hunt,” Nelson said of Junkin. “It’s appealing to all ages. It’s like a Poker Run for people who like to junk and shop.”

Here are locations celebrating the 2024 Fall Junkin on the River sales event: St. Andrews Thrift Store, 5005 U.S. 84; Parker’s Closet, 3002 Carter St.; Leslie-Anne’s Vintage Emporium, 1644 Carter St.; Trinkets and Treasures, 1642 Carter St.; Finders Relics and Resale, 1631 Carter St.; Bless this Mess Vintage Market, 1611 Carter St.; Rusty Bucket, 400 Carter St.; The Shops at Kress, 122 N. Commerce St.; Consignment and More at Jacobs, 120 N. Commerce St.; Franklin St. Relics, 512 Franklin St.; Mrs. Holder’s Antiques and Old Man River Antiques, 636 Franklin St.; Eccentricities, 707 Main St.; Pleasant Acres Some-n-Special Shop, 335 Liberty Road; Merchant of Dreams Warehouse, 24 Feltus St.; St. Andrews Thrift Store, 433 US 61 A; My Book House, Hwy 551 61 N; Used But Good’s and Booth Eleven, 637 US 61 North; Annie Mae’s, 642 US. 61 North; E.J.’s Flea Market, 676 U.S. 61 North; Happy Place, 747 U.S. 61 North and Paws for a Cause Thrift Store, 230 U.S. 61 North.

Event sponsors include Rolling in the Dough, Delta Bank, Concordia Bank, Riverview RV Park, Natchez Visitor Center, Wishes Sweets and Eats, 95 Country, Sonic, United Mississippi Bank and Home Bank.