Attendance estimates astounding at annual Hillsville flea market

HILLSVILLE, Va. - They're back. After a slight dip in attendance/vendors in 2008, the 2009 installment of the Hillsville, Va., Gun Show and Flea Market - now in its 42nd year - seemed to stretch the limits of the tiny Carroll County, Va., capital from its usual 2,200 population, by the tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands.

[Freddy]

Didn't know what to expect nor what was waiting for us in Hillsville, Va. since it was the first time we decided to attend the Fleamarket along with our "three children" Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Food looked inviting, and smelled terrific. People were the friendliest we have ever met in an open area like that, and the variety of goods was outstanding. However, we need to think about the environment. Due to the spoiled food, trash, and other garbage articles that we were constantly trying to avoid to not step in it did tend to take our minds off of the festivities. Perhaps setting up more trash bins, and regular pick-ups throughout the course of the day would alleviate this problem. Our dogs certainly thank you for their being able to come along for this was a great outing for them, too.

[thanks]

Freddy wrote:

Didn't know what to expect nor what was waiting for us in Hillsville, Va. since it was the first time we decided to attend the Fleamarket along with our "three children" Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Food looked inviting, and smelled terrific. People were the friendliest we have ever met in an open area like that, and the variety of goods was outstanding. However, we need to think about the environment. Due to the spoiled food, trash, and other garbage articles that we were constantly trying to avoid to not step in it did tend to take our minds off of the festivities. Perhaps setting up more trash bins, and regular pick-ups throughout the course of the day would alleviate this problem. Our dogs certainly thank you for their being able to come along for this was a great outing for them, too.

Oh please, why not leave the dogs at home. Talking about steping in things, taking big dogs to an outing where there are hundreds of thousands of people is no place for these large animals. As far as the trash goes, they will have it all cleaned up by Wednesday. They are very fast cleaning up the trash when the event is over.

[Freddy]

thanks wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh please, why not leave the dogs at home. Talking about steping in things, taking big dogs to an outing where there are hundreds of thousands of people is no place for these large animals. As far as the trash goes, they will have it all cleaned up by Wednesday. They are very fast cleaning up the trash when the event is over.

So, you threw some trash on the ground, also?!
Not only do I clean up my own garbage but I do clean up the dog poop, too. By the way, do the street cleaners climb into the storm drains, too? And as a dog trainer I like to tell you that outings like that for dogs are very beneficial.

[thanks]

Freddy wrote:

<quoted text>
So, you threw some trash on the ground, also?!
Not only do I clean up my own garbage but I do clean up the dog poop, too. By the way, do the street cleaners climb into the storm drains, too? And as a dog trainer I like to tell you that outings like that for dogs are very beneficial.

No, I do not throw trash on the ground, but those garbage cans do run over fast and those clean up guys do a fantastic job emptying the cans. It's just when there is 100 or 200 thousand people there its a hard, busy job. Thats a low jab at the street cleaners, they are a hard working bunch of guys. I can see this is your first time there. Maybe you should change your occupation from dog trainer to street cleaner if you think you could do a better job. I still say keep the dogs at home, no place for them there amongst all those people.

[Freddy]

I can see that you are an individual who only looks at something superficially and, therefore, this isn't worth my time!

[thanks]

Freddy wrote:

I can see that you are an individual who only looks at something superficially and, therefore, this isn't worth my time!

Thats great, then stay at home with the dogs, and quit complaining.

[Smartypantz]

I went through Hillsville this morning and there is still trash all over the place ! You guys must have had a blast !I didn't get to make it , had 2 sick kids . But I wanted to go soooo bad !:(

[harley]

I've been going to the hillsville flea mkt for 9yrs and always have a good time.It's a crowded place and sometimes hard to get around but that's part of the fun!I do wish folks would leave their little friends at home.All that walking in the heat is hard on us,imagine how your dog feels?If your pet has a disability,such as a front leg missing and walking through gravel in the heat,maybe you should think twice about taking your dog to the flea mkt? And god bless the clean-up crew,can you imagine what that place would look like witout them?Must be a hard job to get through all those people to clean up trash so some preppy don't step in something!

[Smartypantz]

harley wrote:

I've been going to the hillsville flea mkt for 9yrs and always have a good time.It's a crowded place and sometimes hard to get around but that's part of the fun!I do wish folks would leave their little friends at home.All that walking in the heat is hard on us,imagine how your dog feels?If your pet has a disability,such as a front leg missing and walking through gravel in the heat,maybe you should think twice about taking your dog to the flea mkt? And god bless the clean-up crew,can you imagine what that place would look like witout them?Must be a hard job to get through all those people to clean up trash so some preppy don't step in something!

Sounds like a good task for community service .

[Disgusted]

thanks wrote:

<quoted text>
No, I do not throw trash on the ground, but those garbage cans do run over fast and those clean up guys do a fantastic job emptying the cans. It's just when there is 100 or 200 thousand people there its a hard, busy job. Thats a low jab at the street cleaners, they are a hard working bunch of guys. I can see this is your first time there. Maybe you should change your occupation from dog trainer to street cleaner if you think you could do a better job. I still say keep the dogs at home, no place for them there amongst all those people.

With all the money they take in, they should hire about 50 more workers to clean the trash up.

[Karen]

We attend every year. I also am a dog lover and take my dog MOST everywhere, however, where there are thousands of people and some not liking animals I choose to leave mine at home. I believe in my heart that where there are such crowds that it is not fair to the animal nor the people. Some are truly afraid of dogs and vice versa. Our dog is one loving pet, but he will bark at men with beards for some reason, which is funny to us, but not them. We drive 2 hours to get there so I am not a local.

[VENDOR RUDE]

This was the first year we experienced an unfriendly food vendor and felt ripped off. We stood in a line waiting for food and drinks to get to the window and this woman that did not need to be there said sorry, we are out of what you need will be another 15 min. Order something else--Well I could handle that, but the drink price was taped over with duct tape and a Pepsi was $5.00. I had stood in that line so long that with regret I purchased a drink and got a half cooked sausage dog. The woman was so rude we all in our group said that she needed to be gone. They were deceiving on their drink prices having them taped over, because right next to their booth the drinks were 2 and 3.00. If you stand in line long enough you will pay for something cold to drink with the number of people there, but I promise next year I will stand in front of that stand and go thru the line for at least a few minutes and yell out the drinks are 5.00 . As you see I was very irritated and this is as good a place to vent as any. They are located right across from the VFW post.

[Smartypantz]

VENDOR RUDE wrote:

This was the first year we experienced an unfriendly food vendor and felt ripped off. We stood in a line waiting for food and drinks to get to the window and this woman that did not need to be there said sorry, we are out of what you need will be another 15 min. Order something else--Well I could handle that, but the drink price was taped over with duct tape and a Pepsi was $5.00. I had stood in that line so long that with regret I purchased a drink and got a half cooked sausage dog. The woman was so rude we all in our group said that she needed to be gone. They were deceiving on their drink prices having them taped over, because right next to their booth the drinks were 2 and 3.00. If you stand in line long enough you will pay for something cold to drink with the number of people there, but I promise next year I will stand in front of that stand and go thru the line for at least a few minutes and yell out the drinks are 5.00 . As you see I was very irritated and this is as good a place to vent as any. They are located right across from the VFW post.

Sounds like grounds for pushing her stand over ! LOL!