Proceeds from an upcoming consignment auction and flea market will benefit the Carbon County Fair’s building project.

The third annual Carbon County Fair Consignment Auction & Flea Market will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Big Creek Grange, 275 Grange Road, Lehighton.

People can choose to consign items with a small percentage going to the fair, donate items and have all proceeds go to the fair, or rent space for the flea market area and keep all of the sales proceeds.

Building project

Bob Silliman, president, said proceeds from the event will go toward the building project, which he said is ongoing.

“It’s a big job to develop a 42-acre tract,” Silliman said. “(We’re) in the middle of a subdivision, right now, trying to divide it all up.”

The new property is located at 3005 Little Gap Road, just past the Little Gap Animal Hospital.

The property runs behind homes on the stretch of highway.

The current fairgrounds is on property owned by Blue Mountain Ski Resort at 3285 Little Gap Road.

“We’re more or less waiting until that is done until we start moving forward with more of a push on development,” he said. “At the time we have created two roadways, one at each end of the fairground parcel to enter it.”

Silliman said there are still many variables that need to come together.

“Our project we’re working on now is the drilling of two wells so we have water on the property,” he said. “We’re working on a connector road between those two entrances, but from that (point) on we need to get approval from the township and need to have a land development plan, so we’re still a few years down the road.”

Silliman said no exact timetable for the building has been established.

“Things take time to do, and lots of money, so we’re trying to not incur huge debts and develop gradually. The dream is to be there within the next few short years, be there on our new ground.”

The fundraiser

Refreshments include hot tea, coffee or chocolate, and there will be homemade soup, hot dogs, barbecue, halushki, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and more for sale.

There will also be an opportunity to bid on some large equipment and hand tools, and the highest bid will allow them to take home a Ford Model #3400 Industrial Tractor Back-Hoe & Loader with a 66-inch bucket; a child’s coin-operated amusement ride; an 1882 F Wilson Corn Grinder on a box with crank wheel; a water pump with fire hose and B&S engine; a 55-gallon barrel truck; a trailer tow dolly; a lawn roller; steel auto ramps; a Napa air tank; or wet tile cutter and accessories and more.

Flea market space rental is available, in advance, to individuals and vendors, by calling Sue at 610-704-7122. Equipment drop-offs can be arranged by calling Butch at 570-386-2190 or by stopping by the grange on Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by bringing consignment items the morning of the event, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Mask and social distancing are encouraged.

Cash or a Pennsylvania check are required for payment in full on the day of the event.

Dean R. Arner, is volunteering his time as auctioneer.

For a listing of items, go to deanarnerauctions.com and view the photo gallery.