There’s something wonderfully simple about a garage sale. Open the garage, pull out the things your family no longer needs, put up a few signs and watch as toys, clothes, books and household treasures head off to new homes.
But if you’re getting the kids involved in Garage Sale Trail 2026, why not make a proper event of it?
Garage Sale Trail returns across Australia on 7–8 and 14–15 November 2026, giving Eastern Suburbs families the perfect excuse to clear out cupboards, tackle overflowing garages and storage cages, make a little pocket money and have some fun along the way. Garage Sale Trail
Inspired by Garage Sale Trail’s tips for getting children involved, we’ve put together some ideas for creating a garage sale the whole family can enjoy.
First Things First: Let the Kids Declutter
Before you start thinking about signs and decorations, it’s time for the big clear-out.
Give each child a box and ask them to go through their bedroom, playroom and cupboards looking for things they’ve genuinely grown out of.
Think:
- Toys and games
- Books
- Puzzles
- Dress-ups
- Clothes and shoes
- Sporting equipment
- Bikes and scooters
- Craft supplies
- Collectables
Parents can do the same in the kitchen, wardrobes, garage and storage areas.
Rather than treating it as a boring clean-up, explain to the kids that they’re creating their own little shop — and the things they sell can become pocket money.
That tends to make the sorting process considerably more interesting!
1. Turn Your Garage Sale Into a Little Party
A couple of tables on the driveway will do the job, but adding a little personality can make your sale much more inviting.
Get the kids involved in decorating.
Garage Sale Trail suggests avoiding disposable decorations such as balloons and instead using things you already have around the house — old fabric turned into bunting, recycled decorations, streamers made from unwanted clothing or even natural materials collected from the garden. Garage Sale Trail
It doesn’t need to look perfect.
In fact, handmade is half the charm.
2. Dress for the Occasion
If your kids love dressing up, let them.
Superheroes, princesses, pirates, rock stars, footballers or something completely ridiculous — anything goes.
Better still, challenge everyone to create an outfit entirely from second-hand or pre-loved clothes.
It immediately gives your garage sale a bit of personality and gives the kids another reason to stay involved rather than disappearing inside after 20 minutes.
3. Give Your Shoppers a Proper Welcome
Make it obvious that something fun is happening.
Create a colourful entrance using recycled cardboard signs, chalk drawings or an old rug.
If you’re holding the sale with several neighbours, put signs around the street directing people towards each participating house.
Kids can become the official welcoming committee.
There’s something particularly lovely about children proudly announcing, “The toys are over here!” to arriving shoppers.
4. Put Together a Garage Sale Playlist
Music can completely change the atmosphere.
Create a family playlist beforehand and have some background music playing while people browse.
Let everyone choose a few songs so the playlist belongs to the whole family.
Keep the volume neighbour-friendly, of course. You want people browsing your garage sale — not the entire street wondering where the music festival came from.
5. Create a Kids’ Toy Testing Area
This is a particularly good idea if you’re selling lots of children’s toys.
Instead of piling everything into boxes, create a little “Try Me” area.
Garage Sale Trail suggests allowing young shoppers to test toys before buying them. It’s more fun for children and gives parents an opportunity to check that something is suitable before taking it home. Garage Sale Trail
Put puzzles on a little table, set up the toy cars, have a few books available to flick through and make sure anything requiring batteries actually works.
Your old toys suddenly start looking considerably more appealing.
6. Make Signs People Can Actually Read
Let the kids make the signs, but give them a little guidance.
Big letters and simple categories work best.
Try headings such as:
KIDS’ BOOKS
TOYS $2
GAMES & PUZZLES
KIDS’ CLOTHES
SPORTS STUFF
EVERYTHING ON THIS TABLE $5
Garage Sale Trail recommends recycled cardboard, chalkboards or old pieces of timber for homemade signs and suggests having a little fun with your category names too. Garage Sale Trail
How about “Treasure Table”, “Dress-Up Corner” or “Books & Boredom Busters”?
7. Keep Your Prices Simple
Nobody wants to spend the morning repeatedly answering, “How much is this?”
Put prices on things.
For inexpensive items, grouping them together can make things much easier:
$1 TABLE
EVERYTHING $2
3 BOOKS FOR $5
ALL CLOTHES $5 EACH
You could also have a “Make an Offer” section for things you’re particularly keen to clear out.
Garage Sale Trail even suggests a “Pay What You Can” basket, which can be a lovely way to move inexpensive children’s items along while keeping the community spirit of the day. Garage Sale Trail
8. Let the Kids Add Their Own Little Business
Here’s where things can become really fun.
Alongside the main garage sale, let the kids create something of their own.
Perhaps it’s a little lemonade stand, inexpensive lucky dip or another simple activity.
Garage Sale Trail suggests that these small extras can help turn a sale into more of an experience for visiting families. Garage Sale Trail
It also gives children a chance to practise handling money, talking to customers and working out change.
9. Create a Fun Photo Spot
If you’re really getting into the spirit, create a little photo corner.
It doesn’t need to be elaborate.
A colourful recycled cardboard frame with “Garage Sale Treasure Hunter” written across the top could be enough.
Put out a couple of funny hats or second-hand accessories and let shoppers take a photo with their favourite find.
It makes your garage sale memorable — particularly if several families in your street are participating.
10. Tell the Story Behind Special Things
This might be our favourite idea.
Some second-hand things aren’t particularly valuable in dollar terms, but they have wonderful stories attached to them.
Garage Sale Trail suggests putting little handwritten notes on selected items explaining their history. Garage Sale Trail
Perhaps it’s:
This was my favourite teddy when I was four.
I learned to ride on this scooter.
We read this book approximately 500 times!
For children, this can also make saying goodbye to favourite possessions easier. They’re not simply throwing something away. They’re passing it on to another child who can enjoy it next.
Give the Kids a Job
Children are much more likely to stay interested if they have a real responsibility.
One child could manage the books and toys. Another can greet customers. Older kids can handle money or negotiate prices.
You could even give them a notebook to record their sales.
At the end of the day, count everything together and decide what to do with the money.
Perhaps some goes into savings, some becomes spending money and a portion goes towards a family treat.
And When the Sale Is Finished…
Try not to carry everything straight back into the garage!
Decide beforehand what you’ll do with unsold items.
Keep a small number of things if you genuinely want them, but consider donating suitable leftovers rather than returning everything to the cupboards you’ve just worked so hard to clear.
That’s really what Garage Sale Trail is about: keeping useful things in circulation and giving them another life instead of throwing them away. Garage Sale Trail
Garage Sale Trail 2026
Garage Sale Trail takes place over two weekends in November 2026:
Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 November
Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 November
Families can hold their own sale, join a group sale or head out around the neighbourhood in search of second-hand treasures. Garage Sale Trail
For Eastern Suburbs families, it’s a great excuse to finally tackle the garage, storage cage and kids’ bedrooms.
But don’t make it just another household chore.
Turn up the music, let the kids make the signs, give everyone their own stall and make a day of it.
You might be surprised how much the kids enjoy decluttering when there’s a garage sale — and a little pocket money — waiting at the end.
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