It's a good time to get wild and crazy

Get your shopping shoes on!

The biggest clearance sale of the year is about to unfold on the streets of McCook. Called "Crazy Days," the gigantic retail shopping extravaganza starts Thursday and continues through Saturday.

This is the 40th year for the massive event, which features rock-bottom low prices on overstock, closeout and dealer discounted items.

Popular from the start, Crazy Days began in the early 1960s and -- for a brief time -- was known by such other names as "Silly Sale" and "Ridiculous Days."

But when the ad staff of the Gazette and the McCook Chamber happened upon the title, "Crazy Days," they knew they had a winner.

The sale takes place in the middle of the summer -- usually a week before the Red Willow County Fair. Merchants start preparing weeks ahead -- setting stock aside for markdowns during the city-wide clearance sale.

It's like a garage sale, except -- in this case -- it's in the business district.

As a handy guide, Crazy Days' shoppers can turn to the 12-page advertising supplement in today's Gazette. The edition is packed with ads featuring special prices.

To increase the fun, clerks at a number of stores will be dressing up in crazy outfits. For this year's event, many will be dressed up as cartoon characters as the theme is "Saturday Morning Favorites." A judging team from the Chamber of Commerce will be traveling from store to store Thursday morning to do the judging.

And -- once again this year -- the Chamber will be sponsoring a car show. C Street will be roped off Saturday, and cars will be on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. As an added event, there will be a "poker run," with car owners going from business-to-business to collect cards.

All in all, it's going to be a barrel of fun, and -- in the process -- bargain hunters are going to find some terrific buys.

Come one! Come all! It's time for Crazy Days: McCook's annual savings extravaganza!