From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — Are you a bargain shopper? The Junior League of Birmingham’s (JLB) annual Bargain Carousel is making this shopping experience a reality in their Bargain Carousel.
The Bargain Carousel will kick off on Thurs., Apr. 26 this year with Bargain Bash, which is a casual cocktail party that offers first-chance shopping of Bargain Carousel items and impressive silent and live auctions including more than 150 items, such as original artwork and VIP travel packages.
This year’s Bargain Bash is a fabulous fiesta sponsored by Publix Super Market Charities and catered by Taco Mama.
Fun activities include a tequila toss and piñatas with amazing prices.
Har Megiddo, who was a crowd hit last year, is returning to spin the soundtrack for the evening.
For shoppers wanting the best selection and smaller crowds, VIP admission is the best choice, with 6 p.m. entry at $40 a ticket.
Shoppers will receive one hour of early bird shopping before general admission patrons enter.
All guests enjoy food, beverages and the auctions.
VIP admission is $40 a ticket and general admission (7 p.m. entry) is $30 a ticket. All Bargain Carousel items sell for double the ticket price during Bargain Bash.
“Last year I found a beautiful smocked dress and matching shoes for my daughter,” said Melissa of Trussville.
“Bargain Carousel’s purpose is two-fold,” said JLB volunteer and Bargain Carousel chair, Marianne Gilchrist.
“The sale raises money for the League’s programs serving women and children in the metro area and it allows us to sell items at deeply discounted prices to individuals who can benefit from them.”
Bargain Carousel provides the local community with the opportunity to purchase some really great items, including necessities like clothes, as well as furniture, large appliances with the added benefit of raising money to fund JLB Programs, which serve women and children in the metro area, including initiatives related to domestic violence, human trafficking, homelessness, juvenile crime, healthy living, job readiness, personal finances and education.
“Many people return to the event year after year,” Kristen Osborne, Junior League of Birmingham.
“We have our Bargain Bash faithful who come in and buy antique pieces at double our retail price and we have hundreds of people who line up overnight for the general sale because they know they can get gently-used necessities at a price they can afford.”
Bargain Carousel will be held in Hoover just off of Exit 10 from I-459 in the old Princeton-Hoover location and will encompasses the entire shopping center with the main portion occurring in the former Winn-Dixie grocery store.
In 2017, more than 500 tickets were presold the day before Bargain Carousel opened its doors. People began lining up the night before to reserve their spot to pre-purchase tickets. This year, the pre-sale will be held at the sale location on Friday, April 27 from 2 – 6 p.m., where shoppers may purchase up to four tickets at $10/ticket to the Saturday sale.
*A special note for the Saturday sale, all tickets are numbered, and shoppers will enter Bargain Carousel in the order of their ticket number. For information about Bargain Carousel 2018, call 205-879-9861, visit www.bargaincarousel.net, “Like” Bargain Carousel on Facebook, or follow @jlbbargaincarousel on Instagram.