HILLSVILLE, Va. — Sunny weather and thousands of shoppers invaded downtown Hillsville yesterday as the VFW opened its 42nd annual gun show and flea market.

Bill Davis, VFW post commander, was pleased with the crowd by early afternoon.

“It’s much higher to be a Friday ... Usually Fridays are a light day,” he remarked.

Parking lots filled throughout the town, and vendors lined both sides of the street leading to the gated flea market and gun show area. Davis said there are nine gates to enter the official market, and one gate saw 2,000 people by mid-morning.

Jim Mundy has been selling guns at the show for 35 years. He said, “It’s been a big crowd ... but tomorrow there will be more.”

Shirley Moore comes from Cherryville, N.C. to sell flowers and accessories at the market as she has for the past 41 years.

“The crowd’s been fantastic,” she said. “And the weather’s perfect ... We love doing it.”

The shopping extravaganza featured 620 vendors and more than 1,600 spaces within the VFW gates. Davis said numbers were up from last year in terms of both vendors and shoppers.

“I think gas is cheaper but it’s still high enough for people not to travel across the nation,” Davis noted.

Still, people drive from various states to attend the show. Jim and Betty Miller drive from Bristol, Tenn.

Jim said, “We come up every year ... It becomes a habit.”

The couple said they come to look at the many different types of items that can be found at the market, and they always keep an eye out for antiques.

Pam Geouge of Bakersville, N.C. also loves to look for antiques. She has been coming to the gun show and flea market for more than 15 years with her parents and husband.

“I just love to shop,” she said with a laugh.

Geouge said last year was the smallest number of visitors and vendors she had seen.

“It’s better this year,” she said.

The gun show and flea market will be open today and tomorrow as well. Hundreds of vendors come to sell everything from furniture to antiques to toys, and food concessions and stands also line the streets and market lot. The show opens at 7 a.m. and closes around 6 p.m.

Cheryl Butcher from Pinnacle sells knives at the flea market. She thought the crowd seemed a little smaller than usual in her area, but she said shoppers were already walking the streets when she got there at 7 a.m.

The event originally began as a VFW gun show, then the flea market was added on. The entry fee and money raised by the VFW concessions will go directly to the VFW general fund. The money is then used to help the community.

“We do a tremendous amount of community service here,” Davis commented.

The VFW charges $1 per person for entry. Children under 12 can get in for free. The VFW parking lot charges $5 per car to park, and it’s located off of U.S. 52 near Victory Way Baptist Church. Other businesses throughout town will also open their lots for a fee to accommodate the large crowds. Most parking lots charge $5.

Davis said, “It’s just a grand thing that everyone comes to.”

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or at 719-1952.