Perry’s downtown business community is gearing up for Georgia’s longest yard sale, expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the state this weekend, according to a local tourism official.

The Second Annual Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale is set to continue through Sunday, stretching some 172 miles along the Golden Isles Parkway, U.S. 341.

Sheila Jones, executive director of the Perry Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she hopes Peaches to the Beaches will be a boon for local business.

Jones said Peaches to the Beaches was modeled after “The World’s Longest Yard Sale,” stretching along U.S. 127 some 450 miles from Kentucky to Alabama.

“Last year, there were people in Perry from all over the state,” Jones said, “some even from out of state.

“We saw at least 2,000 people last year, and we’re expecting between 2,000 to 3,000 people will shop in the yard sale this year.”

Although Perry is slated as the first major stop along the route, Pearson Farms, a local peach and pecan orchard along U.S. 341 between Perry and Fort Valley, has signed up to participate, hoping to attract visitors traveling from Fort Valley and farther west.

In Perry, several downtown businesses are anticipating a big weekend. Lea Fountain, who works at the Two Friends gift shop on Carroll Street, said the store plans to open early for this weekend’s events.

“We’ll have a lot of fun,” she said. “A lot of the downtown business are doing the same thing.”

Kim Greer, who owns the Go Fish shop on Carroll, said she hopes this weekend’s sale will attractor shoppers who may return to her store in the future.

“I’m hoping this will build up my customer base,” Greer said. “I hope we can attract some customers from Warner Robins and Macon, just to let them know that we’re here. “At least they’ll remember where we’re at.”

A number of Perry’s downtown businesses are hosting special sales this weekend, including Go Fish, Panache Day Spa, Impressions, Two Friends, MeMe’s, Carlton Interiors, Card Carousel, Carrie Lynn’s Antiques, Video Warehouse, and The Swanson House. In addition to the downtown merchants, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church and Crossroads United Methodist Church will also be hosting yard sales. Official yard sale hours will stretch from Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Peaches to the Beaches Yard Sale is being organized by the Golden Isles Parkway Association, a membership organization that represents Chambers of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus and other organizations in towns and cities along and near the Golden Isles Parkway, U.S. 341 between I-75 at Perry and I-95 at Brunswick.

Participating communities include Perry, Hawkinsville, Cochran, Eastman, Helena, McRae, Lumber City, Hazlehurst, Graham, Baxley, Surrency, Odum, Screven, Jesup, Brunswick, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.