Folks 'sold' on Thanksgiving night auction

CARNESVILLE - In the more than a quarter century before the current debate over retailers opening on Thanksgiving, one country auction has been drawing hundreds to its holiday sale.<br /> <br /> Nails Creek Auction, located on Georgia Highway 59 in Franklin County, holds its special Christmas auction each year on Thanksgiving night.<br /> <br /> "We always have a lot of bargains and stuff, and people show up for them beating the Black Friday," said auctioneer Mark Segars, who runs the auction. "We've been doing it 27 years tonight."<br /> <br /> More than 200 people showed up for Thursday's 6 p.m. auction, some arriving as early as 4 p.m. to get a seat. Those arriving in the hour preceding the sale usually have difficulty locating a place to sit.<br /> <br /> "It looks like it's going to be a full house," Segars said before the auction. "There's going to be nowhere to sit here. It's filling up real fast."<br /> <br /> The family event draws people of all ages, including many children. Each person attending receives a ticket for door prizes drawn throughout the five-hour night.<br /> <br /> Before the auction begins, people have the opportunity to walk around the building checking out the mountain of merchandise that will be sold to the highest bidder.<br /> <br /> "Everything in here is new," Segars said. "We've got everything from toys on down to tools. There's something for everybody - a lot of bargains, a lot of pass-out stuff. Everything in here will be sold at some price."<br /> <br /> For those not still full from their Thanksgiving meals, hamburgers, french fries and other foods are available for purchase at the in-house concession stand.<br /> <br /> In addition to the sale Thanksgiving night, Nails Creek Auction has sales four nights a week: 6:00 Monday is the tool sale; 6:00 Tuesday is the antique sale; and 7:00 Friday and Saturday is the variety sale. <br /> <br /> Special large sales are held on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving.<br /> <br /> Nails Creek Auction is located at 21761 Highway 59 S., Carnesville.