The happy coincidence of May 1 falling on a Saturday should propel yard sale vendors and buyers into “Yard Sale Mania” this year.

More spring yard sales are scheduled for the first weekend in May than any other in the spring, The Panolian publisher John Howell said.

“We’re going to add to the mix with our ‘Yard Sale Mania’ promotion in the Friday, April 30 newspaper, offering yard sale advertisers special incentives,” Howell said.

Specially-printed Yard Sale signs will be given free with each yard sale ad placed, and a special directory of advertised yard sales’ locations will be published in the April 30 edition.

Batesville residents are reminded to buy a $2 permit at City Hall. Charitable organizations pay no fee but are still required to obtain a permit, deputy City Clerk Patricia Todd said. The permits are good for three days, she added.

Other yard sale restrictions in Batesville limit hours from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No more than five signs may be posted to advertise a yard sale, and no sign may be larger than eight square feet, Todd said.

Yard sale permit applicants seeking permit for sales on property other than their own must bring written permission from the property owner when they apply for their permit, the deputy city clerk said.

“When yard sales happen, it stimulates business for retailers ithroughout this area,” Howell said. “We expect the first weekend in May to be busier than ever.”