Obviously if you are following me you know my longtime love for Mackenzie-Childs. I had the opportunity to visit Aurora New York for Camp Courtly Check and learn the history of Mackenzie-Childs and how the ceramics are made. You can read more about my time there here. But I’m sure thats not why you are here. You came here for the details on how to plan a trip and make your way around the Mackenzie-Childs Barn Sale!
In July I went to the Mackenzie-Childs Barn Sale with my mom, sister and for the first time, Taylor joined us! We have been making the trip up to Aurora, NY 5 years now for the sale. I’ve wanted to give you guys the inside scoop on what to expect for a while now so I put together this post!
Where to stay and eat
For me in Northern New Jersey it takes about a 4 hour drive on maybe only three roads, so it’s pretty easy. You can do the trip in one day but it is so beautiful there we like to extend our time and stay an extra day or two. The Mackenzie-Childs Barn Sale is always in July and there is LIMITED accommodations, so once they announce the dates I recommend booking a room at one of The Inns of Aurora. Now when I say LIMITED there is a reason its in all caps LOL. The Inns are only a few minutes away and the only place to stay locally, otherwise the next closest hotels are about 45 mins to an hour away. One year we did stay at a hotel in Cortland, NY which was about an hour back towards New Jersey. Below are some hotels about 45mins from Aurora.
Inside of the sale they have a few food trucks where you can get drinks (including wine) and food. They have things like personal pizzas, salads, grilled food and sandwiches. Around the food trucks are some folding tables and chairs but they get crowed. So be prepared to sit on the grass if you don’t want to wait for a seat.
After the Mackenzie-Childs Barn Sale you can make a left out of the property and you will be in the center of Aurora, NY. If you are looking for a casual dinner (think hamburgers and amazing fried pickles) then the Fargo Bar & Grill is perfect. If you are looking for something a little more upscale then I would suggest making reservations ahead of time for the 1833 Kitchen and Bar at The Aurora Inn.
The Line
When we first started going the line would be around 4 hours long. Year by year the staff has gotten so organized that this past year the wait was under 2 hours! Thats nothing! I spoke with the staff about it they said they didn’t want to have people standing out for so long (in the heat) which I thought was so considerate.
When you start to get closer to the entrance staff will come around and hand out large brown shopping bags, you can take as many as you need. They also have them once you are inside if you want more. When you walk into the sale they also have a line for shopping carts. We usually each get a shopping cart, it can get filled quick!
Some people bring RVs and camp out the night before the sale. They even set up tents and decorate them Mackenzie-Childs style! We have never done that but it seems like such a good time.
The SALE
The sale starts on a Thursday and we try to get there that morning to be there for the first day. They restock items throughout the sale but if there is something specific you are searching for, I recommend getting there as early as you can. The furniture goes super fast and that usually doesn’t get restocked. There also might only be one or two of a certain piece. You can put furniture on hold for 1 hour while you are looking around, and you can ship it too. I am not sure on how that works but it is good to know!
When you first walk in, to the right of you is a large barn which is where the almighty enamelware is. This is usually the most crowded so we like to get in there first and get it done. It is full of Courtly Check and other prints discounted least 50%. They have all the popular styles like the canisters, plates, bowls, and even teapots! I was always surprised by this because allot of companies that have sales like this do not discount popular items.
Lots of Courtly Check 
Ice buckets make great gifts!
So many canisters! 
After we finish the enamelware we head into the tents, in here it is organized by home decor, seasonal, rugs, ceramics, glassware, kids, outdoor, lighting and furniture. The sections are clearly marked so like I said before, if there is something specific you are looking for head there first.
The main tent. 
Inside the tent.
The ceramic section is usually a favorite of mine because those pieces are expensive and at the sale are 50% off.
Seasonal is also a good spot because there is even deeper discounts. In the past I’ve gotten Christmas items for 80% off! They do also have lots of pumpkins at 50% off, they seem to be a popular item there too.
They had so many flowers! 
Stock up on pumpkins!
The rugs are so good! 
They even have outdoor furniture!
50% off 
The tuffets go fast!
Reminders:
• Wear comfy shoes, and also shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. You may be standing in the grass and early in the day the grass is wet with dew.
• You can pack some snacks but there is also a few food trucks inside AND outside the sale.
• Bring a Mackenzie-Childs catalog or grab one from the store while you are on line! We love to browse through it for ideas on what we want while in line.
•Make friends on line! We love chatting with people to see where they are from or how long they have been coming to the sale.
• If you are with someone who may not want to stand for long periods of time you can bring a foldable chair.
• Sunglasses and cool clothing is a must! This is in the heat of summer! Some people had umbrellas in line to block the sun too. (Most of the line you are standing in a parking lot or field with no shade.)
• If you are bringing a baby, strollers ARE allowed. Get a portable fan to attach to it and keep them cool!
• You can bring your own wagon or cart.
• If you are with a group, split up when you first enter the sale and have someone wait on line for a cart. Sometimes that line can have a little wait.
• When you are shopping, fill your cart with things you might want, if you say you will think about it once you go back it can be gone! Once you make your first round then take a break and go through your items in the open areas.
• If there is something you can’t find check the “discarded piles” as others may have had it in their cart and put it down. I have found some things that way!
• They have WiFi and you DEF need to hook up to it, the service is non existent there and if you need to send pics of things to friends you need the WiFi!
• Things can be shipped.
• Check out lines move pretty fast.
• Credit Cards and cash are accepted.
Tired Taylor with her fan!
I hope you found this post helpful! The Mackenzie-Childs Barn Sale is such a fun time and a great excuse for a little getaway with friends or family! Going to the sale has now become a family tradition we look forward to every year. Let me know if you have any other questions about the sale that I didn’t cover, I am happy to help!
