A 2-block area of downtown Poplarville will be abuzz Saturday, April 30, with shoppers and sellers testing out the inaugural Trash to Treasure Downtown Flea Market-Garage Sale.

The Main Street area affected is the two city blocks on either side of the 4-way stop in the center of Main Street, from the Backdoor Bookstore across from Hancock Bank to the Pearl River County Tax/E911 offices.

Sponsored by the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce, the event will run from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Main Street will blocked off so that the booths can be set up on the street, leaving the sidewalks clear for shoppers to browse through downtown businesses in addition to the sellers/vendors on the street.

The Chamber is hopeful this Trash to Treasure event will become an annual affair that will bring more people into the city to boost retail sales as well as giving locals a venue for garage and flea market sales.

The quaint small-town atmosphere of Poplarville is something that the Chamber is hoping to showcase as a drawing card for the event, one of the organization’s members said.

“We urge you to shop Poplarville to experience that ‘old time atmosphere’ and good friendly people who want your business.”

The Chamber is putting out a call for interested sellers to participate. Applications and registration information can be downloaded from the Chamber website, www.poplarville.org or by calling 601-795-0578. Chamber Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Chamber organizers expect to see many garage sales and flea market spots with possibly some antique/collectable booths along the Main Street site. The event will take place rain or shine.

According to information from the Chamber, those who have booth spaces should begin setting up at 7 a.m. and take down booths by 2 p.m. Booth users are reminded that the street is uneven in certain areas and that there is no electricity or water available.

Awarding booth space is at the discretion of the Chamber committee. There can be a wide variety of items for sale or trade, except for items with vulgarity or profanity, illegal paraphernalia, and firearms or weapons that require a permit for sale or purchase.

The Chamber of Commerce will have the only food booth.

Booth fees are $40 for one 12×12 space or two spaces for $70.

Parking the day of the event is available across from the Lower Elementary School near Hancock Bank, empty lots along Dauphine and Railroad Streets one block off of Main Street, and one either side of the courthouse and at BankPlus.

Interstate 59, U.S. Highway 11 and Mississippi Highways 26 and 53 allow out-of-town visitors access to the city.

Past events where Main Street has been blocked in this manner have seen traffic flow directed one block east on Railroad and Dauphine Streets.