The sixth annual Route 66 Treasure Hunt will be coming to St. James over Labor Day weekend. From Eureka to Rolla, visitors will have an opportunity to find value from individuals and businesses along the approximately 66.7 miles of Route 66.

For four days, there will be a great opportunity to find a bargain-priced deal from local businesses and individuals as there will be sales all over the community Thursday, September 2 to Sunday, September 5. This will be the first year that St. James participates and the Chamber of Commerce is hoping that it will bring visitors to the area and provide an opportunity for residents to sell garage sale items at the same time.

“St. James has never participated before. Garage sales, businesses will put out there stuff; One huge garage sale event for businesses and people on Route 66,” Director of the Chamber of Commerce Jennie Miller explained. Preliminary plans are being put into place to allow for residents to set up along East and West Washington with garage sale items and businesses are encouraged to put items on the sidewalk for sale. “The streets are not going to be closed and the ground will be staked. They will need to stay within the stakes,” Miller added.

There will be no charge for the event and participants will be allowed to register for an 18’ x 12’ spot to sell items during the four-day event. It is asked that no vehicles be parked within the selling area as to alleviate congestion.

“People can come setup for one day or for all four days. It will be a first-come, first-served basis. This event is being held to try to get people downtown,” Miller said. The Chamber will be accepting registration for spots to account for everyone participating, but there are no reserved spots. A “Treasure Hunters” map will be available for participants to use to locate sales opportunities throughout St. James.

The Chamber of Commerce is hoping that the event will draw visitors who are traveling along Route 66 from surrounding communities to visit and enjoy St. James as well as allow businesses and individuals to sell items and local merchandise. The annual event has had success in other communities in the past and it is hoped that this will provide another reason for visitors to experience St. James and all that it has to offer.

Interested parties can register by calling the Chamber of Commerce office at 265-6649. The Chamber will have additional overflow areas for participants to set up if necessary.