Lancaster County Auctions


Attending Lancaster County auctions is a fun way to experience firsthand the community traditions and culture of Lancaster County. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, these events are a fascinating opportunity to glimpse into the lives of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

In Lancaster County, annual Amish auctions that take place in late winter or early spring are often referred to as "Mud Sales." The term refers to the condition of the thawing ground characteristic of that time of year.

Oftentimes, church groups and fire companies have mud sales to raise funds. If you attend one, you will find everything from Amish quilts and furniture to livestock and produce up for bidding.

It can be fascinating to watch the locals with their horse-drawn wagons bringing their wares to be auctioned. Better yet, is plenty of fresh country food on sale. It is a lot of fun just to watch the community living out a generations-old tradition.

Because Lancaster County auctions are not held on a regular basis, a good way to learn when a particular auction is held is by consulting the local town's weekly newspaper. Also helpful are the Friday editions of the two largest newspapers covering Lancaster County, the Lancaster New Era and the Intelligencer Journal .

A popular and traditional country auction you might want to attend is the Gordonville Fire Company Auction located at Old Leacock Road between Route 30 and 340 in Gordonville,PA 17529. Most of the items on sale are donated by local residents to benefit the fire company.

The Gordonville Fire Company Auction is held twice a year. The spring auction takes place on the second Saturday of March and includes the sale of quilts, livestock, furniture, antiques, and arts & crafts. The autumn auction, on the other hand, occurs on the fourth Saturday of September and includes quilts, buggies, wagons, and sleighs among other items.





Additional Lancaster County auctions worth visiting are:

Martin Auctioneers hosts several different types of auctions throughout the year. A popular one is their annual one where buyers from all around bid on antique sleighs, carriages and coaches. Martin Auctioneers is located east of Intercourse at the intersection of PA 340 and New Holland Road.

Several times throughout the year the Heritage Map Museum in Lititz holds a rare map and book auction. People from around the world gather to see the sale of historic maps and books dating back to the 15th Century. The museum is located at 55 North Water Street in Lititz, PA 17543.

The Horst Auction Center is a great country auction where you can spend some time with locals as they bid on everything from real estate & farms to antiques, old coins, and various household goods. The location is the corner of Route 322 and Durlach Road in Ephrata, PA 17522.




Please click on the Calendar of Events link to see when some of the popular Lancaster County auctions have been scheduled this year.






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