Where it all began…
Since our inception in 1977 at the City Coliseum in South Austin, Texas, the City-Wide Vintage Sale (formerly the City-Wide Garage Sale) has been a cherished, woman-owned, family-run event. For nearly five decades, we’ve empowered small businesses and fostered a vibrant community of talented vendors and unforgettable characters. Celebrities like Goldie Hawn, Rue McClanahan, Drew Barrymore, and local icons such as Charlie Sexton, Dale Watson, and Aaron Franklin have added star power to this lively gathering.
Join us to explore this unique Austin tradition, where the past and future collide in an exciting treasure hunt. Experience the nostalgia with true Austin vibes!
The City Coliseum was a repurposed B-29 military hangar from World War II. The City of Austin-owned venue hosted the circus, the rodeo, and legendary musical acts such as Johnny Cash, The Clash, the Beastie Boys, and Austin’s own Stevie Ray Vaughan, among many others. It was torn down in 2002 and replaced by the Palmer Events Center.
History of City-Wide: A Texas-Sized Tale
Back in '77, when the gas pumps ran drier than a West Texas creek bed, Austin folks were stuck. Long lines of pickups and sedans snaked around every gas station, folks prayin’ for their 10-gallon fill-up. In that mess, a lightbulb went off: with fuel scarcer than hen’s teeth, how were folks gonna keep up the sacred Texas tradition of weekend garage salin’? Drivin’ from one sale to another was burnin’ more gas than a barbecue pit at a brisket cook-off. What if all them garage sales got rounded up in one spot, like cattle at a brandin’?
That’s when the City-Wide Garage Sale® was born, y’all. Picture this: a big ol’ climate-controlled spot where folks—regular Joes and non-profits alike—could set up their rummage sales, with advertisin’ thrown in, come hell or high water. No frettin’ about rain or scorchin’ sun. It didn’t take long for the antique and collectible dealers to mosey on in, sniffin’ out opportunity like hounds on a trail. Word spread faster than gossip at a church picnic, and soon enough, lines of bargain-hunters were campin’ out, itchin’ to storm the doors when the sale kicked off Saturday mornin’.
Over the years, City-Wide grew up like a Longhorn steer (Hook 'em🤘🏼). Shoppers hankerin’ for used, oddball, vintage, or just plain hard-to-find treasures turned the event into a full-blown vintage and collectible marketplace. Don’t get it twisted—folks with everyday household goods still show up, slingin’ bargains to make a quick buck. But to keep City-Wide’s soul as unique as a pair of custom Luccheses, they laid down the law: no crafts, no novelties, no shiny new doodads. This ain’t no flea market for mass-produced junk—this is the place for the peculiar, the deal, and the downright weird.
Austin’s changed plenty since those days. The old City Coliseum got torn down in 2002, replaced by the fancy Palmer Events Center. But City-Wide? It held fast to its roots, stayin’ the go-to spot for all things vintage and collectible. Every sale draws a wild mix of folks: collectors huntin’ rarities, college kids scroungin’ for cheap finds, interior decorators and set designers lookin’ for that one-of-a-kind piece, wardrobe folks for film and theater, families on the prowl, and the just plain curious pokin’ around. And let me tell ya, their curiosity gets rewarded with a haul of treasures that changes faster than a Texas twister.
For nigh on 48 years, “City-Wide” has been as Austin as a cold Lone Star on a hot summer night. The city’s grown, and so have we. In 2019, we spruced up the name to City-Wide Vintage Sale, keepin’ true to our heritage while ridin’ with the times. So come on down, y’all—grab a deal, find a gem, and join the legend that’s still kickin’ stronger than a buckin’ bronc.