Palmerton has always been known for its pleasant small town ambience.

It's kind of like the television show "Cheers," about a bar where you go and everyone knows your name.One of the ways Palmerton keeps that ambience alive is by holding its annual townwide Sidewalk Sale, which started Thursday and will continue Friday and Saturday.Most of Delaware Avenue's businesses have tables set up outside. Customers can buy everything from furniture, wedding dresses, purses, jewelry, hardware, clothing, produce, pet supplies, lunch and even lemonade at discounted prices. Even some of the restaurants have specials.Tyler Hager, 9, has an Alex's Lemonade Stand in front of his father's store, Hager Furniture Co. Inc. This is the second year in a row for the S.S. Palmer fourth-grader.Two years ago, the daughter of one of his father's employee's died of cancer."I wanted to do something to help find a cure for childhood cancer. My mom thought doing an Alex's Lemonade Stand would be a good idea," Tyler said.Last year the stand raised almost $1,750.Helping him is his sister, Cassie, 7, a S.S. Palmer second-grader, and cousin Morgan Hesse, 16, who attends Moravian Academy. Morgan thinks the lemonade stand is "awesome."They're serving up lemonade, pink lemonade, cookies, muffins, Chex mix and cupcakes."The Sidewalk Sale helps keep people local. We think the sale has been going on for about 50 years. Unfortunately, we lost two businesses this year, Spillanes and Fred's Haberdashery. Our job for next year is to try to bring in more vendors and businesses to participate," says Jeff Hager, of the family furniture store.He was pleased with the activity he saw Thursday."It's a good day when most of what we put out sells," he says.Mata and Gary Curran have been setting up a table in front of Hager's for the last five years with their business of selling Tastefully Simple products."We get good results from the Sidewalk Sale. We've had a very good day so far. It's usually blistering hot but today is just perfect," Mata Curran says.Holly Sell and her two sons, Noah and Hunter, were enjoying visiting Thursday's vendors."I think the Sidewalk Sale is great. It gives our local businesses the opportunity to showcase themselves. I hope people come out and support our businesses. It's a one-stop shop experience here in Palmerton," says the Palmerton borough councilwoman.Bev Galasso and Celina Fital were available to help anyone looking for that special dress for a special occasion in front of VK Bridal Couture. Bride, bridesmaids, flower girls, mother of the bride and prom dresses are discounted during the Sidewalk Sale, as well as special occasion shoes, accoutrements and more."The Sidewalk Sale is good for Palmerton. It gets people into the stores," says Galasso.Debbie Shea, wife of Bernie Shea, co-owner of Shea's Hardware said, "It brings a lot of different faces in the door. And it has a carnivallike feel to it."