Leah Slater (Artsci’18) still remembers her first Arts & Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) Sidewalk Sale.

“I still have the resource flyers with the key contacts for different services on campus, and a few of the cups,” says Ms. Slater, ASUS’ Community Awareness, Respect, and Engagement Chair. “First-year students love the Sidewalk Sale because it’s a lot of fun, there’s a ton of free stuff, and it is all supporting a great cause. We are looking forward to another memorable and exciting sale and a fantastic fundraising total in support of the Queen’s Shinerama campaign and Cystic Fibrosis Canada.”

There will be more than 300 booths at the sale, including Queen’s clubs and departments, and local, national, and international businesses. It’s a chance for students to get plugged into the community life on campus, make some new friends, and get themselves – and their dorm rooms – ready for the year ahead. To fit all those booths, plus the human traffic, that will be onsite during the sale, University Street between Union and Stuart will be closed.

Some of the new vendor booths this year include new Kingston-area businesses VR Hut, a virtual reality experience centre; Goodway Thrift Store; Sherlock's Escapes, a detective themed escape room-style adventure; and Gino’s Pizza and Spaghetti, which will be giving out some free slices and contributing to the Shinerama campaign. Annual favourites will also be making an appearance, including the Coca Cola, Pizza Pizza, Pita Pit, and Pam's Flower Garden booths.

It is estimated more than 10,000 people drop by the sale each year, including all first-years and their orientation leaders – with more than a few staff and faculty also making a stop by to take in the festivities. Vendors pay to set up shop on University Avenue, and the proceeds support the Shinerama Campaign at Queen’s. This event is the single largest contributor to the campaign, and organizers expect to bring in about $45,000. The overall goal for this year’s campaign is $100,000.

Vendors will be open by 9 a.m. on Friday, September 8 and open all day. The event is rain or shine.