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What is a jumble sale?

Also called: jumble · Used in United Kingdom and Ireland

A jumble sale is a charity sale of donated goods, traditionally run by a church, school or scout group in a parish hall, with proceeds going to the organisation. It is the British equivalent of a church rummage sale, and the same scramble-at-the-bargain-stall format.

What it actually means in practice

Historically the entry fee bought you fifteen minutes at the tables before the general public was let in, which is why 'jumble' became associated with the pushing rather than the goods.

They still run for the same reason: donated household items with no individual seller to price them, so everything must go before the hall is cleared.

Rummage saleA rummage sale is run by a group — a church, school, club or charity — rather than a single household. Donated goods are pooled and sold, usually in a hall over one or two days, and the proceeds go to the organisation rather than to any individual seller.Car boot saleA car boot sale is a British and Irish market where sellers display goods from the boot of a car at a rented field, car park or rec ground. It is closer to a fleamarket than to a garage sale: many traders go weekly and buy stock specifically to resell.

Find one near you

Every jumble sale posted nearby is on one map, sorted by distance, with dates, hours and photos. Hosting one yourself? Posting is free and takes about two minutes.

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