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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It would appear with the long line-up of people extending down the sidewalk before the doors even opened, Yellowknife United Church's garage sale Saturday was a huge success.

Ruari Carthew holds four chairs in one hand and two life jackets in the other. All these items cost him less than $10 at the garage sale at Northern United Place on Saturday. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

"At 8:00, people were lined up outside and we had many, many things here, and within the first 15 minutes people were lined up at the cash table, ready to pay," said Susan Chisholm, a member of the church and volunteer at the event.

"When people come, they have to come early to this sale. It happens every year. There's a big rush and all the good stuff goes."

This event - coinciding with the bike auction across the street and an Ecology North clothing swap upstairs at Northern United Place - marked the beginning of the bargain season.

No doubt, garage sales will be popping up around town every Saturday morning for the foreseeable future.

The average price tag at the church sale was $1. The highest priced item this reporter saw was a $20 elliptical trainer - a workout machine that averages about $200 in a google.com product search.

Other things for sale included common household items like chairs, toasters, and printers.

"I've got a 15-month-old," said Ruari Carthew, who was buying four small chairs for his young daughter.

Carthew also purchased two life jackets so they could go out canoeing with boating season right around the corner. Bits of nostalgia littered the tables, like old Goosebumps books and VHS tapes of such movies as Fievel Goes West, and the Land Before Time.

"I keep a box in my house and I keep throwing the kids toys in it when they're done with them," said Chisholm.

"I plan for it because I know it happens every year."

The proceeds went to the church.

"We use this money for social programs and things in the community as much as we can," said Chisholm.

"I know that it's going to go back to the community, which is different from my own personal garage sale where I would buy groceries or whatever (with the money)."