From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for July 20, 1989:

Hundreds of shoppers turned out today for a day of bargain-hunting at the annual Downtown Lawrence Sidewalk Sale. Several merchants agreed that the early-morning crowds had been thinner than those of previous years. Steve Gnagy, a sales clerk at Adventure A Bookstore, 836 Massachusetts, said he hadn’t been overwhelmed by the 7 a.m. crowd. “It’s not as hectic as it has been in past years,” he commented. Yolonda Newman, assistant manager at The College Shoe Shoppe, 837 Mass., agreed, saying, “So far it’s been pretty busy, but it started out slower this morning.” Cooler weather may have been a factor, as the temperature at 10:30 this morning was only 68 degrees — a fact that wasn’t stopping people buying up lots of cups of frozen yogurt at a Special Olympics fundraising stand. Win Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Clothing, 841 Mass., said that business at his store had been non-stop. “As usual, there are plenty of people this year, and every year it seems people get here earlier,” he commented. “People seem to get more excited and anticipate the carnival-type affair. It’s an extraordinary day…. It provides something good and fun for both the customers and the merchants.”