MYRTLE BEACH — Terry Mczeke has been traveling to festivals, flea markets, concerts and shows for nearly 25 years to sell various goods.

But, the state’s largest garage sale held in Myrtle Beach each year is his favorite day to work.

“This is the top,” he said. “It’s the busiest and it’s the shortest day of work. Seven hours, but it’s the equivalent to two or three days work in some places.”

He said that’s because the large volume of customers is constant throughout the day.

Working with his wife, daughter and younger sister on Saturday, the Marion resident said his family has been coming to Myrtle Beach for the garage sale the last six years, including three when the event was still held in the Pavilion Parking Garage on 9th Avenue North.

Mczeke had one of the few spots outside of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, but most vendors were set up inside the exhibit halls, or in the center’s hallways.

Everything imaginable was at the garage sale Saturday – comic books, jewelry, china and linens, clothing and costumes, artwork, furniture and even a tanning bed.

Even with tables set on wide aisles, maneuvering around the exhibit halls was difficult with the amount of people searching for new treasures.

Dave Pasquarelli was in the market for a telescope, until Saturday.

“I didn’t expect it,” he said, even though it was something he had been looking to find for a while, and it only cost $30.

“Hopefully, we’ll get [to view] Saturn and see the rings,” he said.

The Rev. Stan Weber, with Joseph B. Bethea United Methodist Church, had a spread inside the exhibit hall hoping to raise funds for the church. He said a parishioner suggested the church set up a table at the garage sale, so they collected donated items from the congregation and went to work.

“We’re doing really well,” Weber said. “I’m surprised. We’re selling all the stuff I thought nobody would ever touch, but that’s what everybody wants.”

He said the church has done yard sales at their Carolina Forest facility, but it was nice to be out of the heat for a change.

“It really works out,” he said. “There’s a lot more people and for all the advertising we do, this didn’t cost 10 cents.”

Myrtle Beach has hosted the garage sale for 24 years. This year’s event sold all vendor spaces more than two weeks before the sale on August 20.

Contact AMANDA KELLEY at 626-0381.