For the 49th year in a row, the Woodbury Lions are inviting residents to their neighbors’ garages for a buffet of stuffed animals, baby clothes and tools.

The annual Lions Garage Sale is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, May 7-9.

Sellers have registered and begun the sorting, pricing, sign-making and staging essential to a successful sale. Some are annual participants with regular customers, while others are newcomers with a commitment to decluttering.

Shoppers are also preparing. Some take the sale on with near-military precision — dressing their squad in matching shirts, making hotel reservations and driving in from Wisconsin with large pickups towing trailers. Others take a more casual approach, figuring that they’ll swing by the neighbors’ sales on Saturday morning.

Lions Club volunteers are setting up to make the sales run smoothly, with times set for participants to pick up the signs that mark houses as registered.

The sale directory is ready and can be obtained for $5 at:

• Kickoff party May 5, from 5-8 p.m. at the Green Mill
• Wednesday and through the sale at Kwik Trip, Holiday Station stores and Speedway
• The online version will be available for purchase the morning of May 6

Although the sale is scheduled for May 7-9, it is becoming more common for some sellers to open their garage doors on Wednesday. Many sales close early and are not open on Saturday, while others offer generous discounts on that day. Post-sale days find unsold merchandise sitting curbside and on lawns with “Free” signs for real bargain hunters.

Safety Tips For Sellers:

Woodbury Public Safety staff annually advise sellers, shoppers and neighbors to be safe during the Lions Garage Sale. Their tips include:

• Don’t let anyone in your house
• Keep a cell phone with you
• Keep most of your cash on your person, not just sitting on a table
• Use your phone for electronic transactions and keep the item until the order goes through
• Get a counterfeit detection pen. They are reasonably priced at Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
• Call 911 if you are uncomfortable or suspicious
• Drive very carefully. There will be hundreds of distracted drivers who are unfamiliar with the area
• Be very cautious crossing streets. Stop at the curb before crossing
• Leave room for emergency vehicles
• Do not block fire hydrants, mailboxes or neighbors’ driveways