Spring is here and that means your opportunities to shop are even more plentiful. Yard sales, flea markets, sidewalk sales and open houses are popping up everywhere. Locally, you can count on a few big events year after year and new prospects to explore as well.

Hit the road this weekend or mark your calendars now for these shopping events:

This weekend the J. Crew warehouse in Lynchburg is hosting another sale. The warehouse, at 25 Millrace Drive, will be open today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find more information and read about my experience at this sale on the blog, or contact the warehouse at 434-316-6324.

Another great opportunity to find some bargains this weekend is at the Sam’s Club Open House. This weekend only, the retailer is allowing non-members to shop or try various food samples with no strings attached. Samples will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, and Roanoke store hours are today from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Current Sam’s Club members may want to steer clear of the store this weekend if possible — it’s going to get crowded.

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse will host its next sale May 6-11 and May 13-18. This warehouse is located at 3030 Nicholas Ave. in Roanoke, and sale hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers will find fragrances for men and women, skincare products, makeup and more at this sale. It is important to note that no one under the age of 16 is allowed in or on the premises of this sale. For more information, call 983-6400.

Next Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Roanoke Civic Center will be hosting the Monster Indoor Flea Market. About 100 vendors will fill the Special Events Center, and seller spaces are still available for $25 if you’re ready to make a few bucks off of your clutter. For more information, call 853-5483.

On May 11, North Cross School will host its annual Big Flea event. At this event you can find donated furniture, large appliances, household items and clothing for sale to benefit the school. Donations for the sale will be accepted through May 9, and if you have large items, pick-up may be arranged by calling Jenn Mitchell at 230-8584. Kids can also have some fun at this sale by participating in field day events like carnival games, a dunking booth and more. Concessions will be available for purchase. The sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and field day activities will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Another flea event that’s being held for a good cause is the 17th Annual Allstate Flea Market and Craft Event to benefit the March of Dimes. This event is also being held on May 11 between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. (the rain date is June 8) outside the Salem Civic Center. Shoppers can usually find between 100 and 150 vendors at this event. Interested in selling? Vendors may rent two parking spaces for a $35 donation or four spaces for a $55 donation. For more information, call 776-6163.

Global Partners in Peace and Development is hosting an event called Proceeds for Poverty May 16-18 at the former Kroger location located on Orange Avenue in Roanoke behind the KFC and Denny’s. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Global Partners will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from this sale to one of its four causes: clean water wells, small businesses, orphaned children and food programs. Items in good working condition (excluding clothes, entertainment centers and any TVs that are not flat screen) will be collected for the sale May 13-15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. behind the building. If you are moving or have large furniture or appliances ready to donate now, call Roy Carter at 537-2070 to arrange a pickup. For more information about the sale, visit www.gpartners.org.

This time of year you can also find flea markets at local churches and businesses. Many are submitted to The Roanoke Times at calendar.roanoke.com. Enter “flea” or “sale” in the search bar to find other events.

If you prefer adventuring around town and hitting yard sales all weekend, consider checking out the yard sale map on Roanoke.com. You can plan your route with this nifty tool at yardsales.roanoke.com.

Yard sale hosts may post the address, hours and a short description of what they offer on this page, and you may also get directions to each location. If you’re interested in posting your own yard sale on the map, you may do so at the web address above or by calling 981-3311.

You can also stay up-to-date with the local yard sale scene by signing up for text alerts from The Roanoke Times. Smartphone users can text “yardsales” to 96362 to sign up. Once you’re on the list you’ll receive up to four texts per month with a weekly update about yard sales on the map and a link to the mobile-friendly page (which is: http://bit.ly/ZeruCj).

What are your favorite local shopping events?

Considering a membership to Sam’s Club? This weekend you can check out what the retailer has to offer during it’s open house Friday through Sunday.

I received this notice from a store representative:

“From Friday, April 26 to Sunday, April 28, Sam’s Club is opening its doors to the public for a three-day spring Open House weekend. Members and non-members across the country will be able to access extraordinary savings on the newest items for spring and summer entertaining including dozens of complimentary warm weather food and beverage items, luxurious patio sets, hybrid grills and accessories for outdoor living from gazebos and pop-up gardens to pool floats and play sets.

During the Open House, Sam’s Club will present a festival of summer-inspired food and beverage samples from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, including but not limited to:

• Patriotic Pound Cake with assorted fresh berries
• Assorted gourmet cheeses including smoked gouda, gruyere and Jarlsburg
• Fresh Enchilada Bake with Brisket and Salsa
• Grilled Steak Salad with Wish-bone® Dressing
• Applewood Smoked Pork Chops
• Garlic and Herb Chicken with Just Add Juice™ Seasoning
• Artichoke Spinach Dip with Pita Chips
• Italian Deli Pasta Salad with Daily Chef Rotini and Castle Wood® Sliced Salami
• Honey BBQ Pork Tenderloin
• Olive Garden Steak with Olive Garden® Italian Dressing
• Fruity Lemonade Cooler with Country Time® Lemonade and fresh watermelon

Several food pairings are sourced from recipes in Fresh, Fast & Fabulous (Version Three), an exclusive Sam’s Club cookbook provided to Open House guests while supplies last. You and your readers can download a digital version of the cookbook with inspiring recipes, cooking tips and brilliant photography at SamsClub.com/meals. “

Lauren Ellerman has a vivid childhood memory of singing in a choir with her brother during Christmastime at a men’s clothing shop. She recalls her parents browsing for gifts while local families did their own holiday shopping, and everyone seeming so happy and spirited.

This is exactly the scene Ellerman, 33, is trying to recreate during the inaugural South Roanoke Holiday Open House from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday.

During the event, locally owned shops and restaurants on Crystal Spring Avenue in Roanoke will offer discounts on food, beverages, clothing, jewelry and housewares. Ellerman herself is one of the owners of The River & Rail Restaurant, so she has a direct interest in inspiring folks to shop local this season.

Ellerman explained, “One of the major focuses of our restaurant is supporting local farmers. Supporting local [business] is one of the cornerstones of our own business, so it made sense to have our neighborhood support all of its local shops.”

There are 10 participants in the open house, all offering a variety of deals. Shoppers can get these special offers by purchasing a coupon book for $15 at any participating location now through the evening of the event.

The deals include:

* Garland’s on Crystal Spring: 10 percent off total purchase (except for Barbour brand) during the event.

* The River & Rail Restaurant: $50 gift certificates for $40 during the event.

* Fork in the Alley: Free s’more with the purchase of an entrée during the event, and $5 off a $20 purchase until Jan. 15.

* Tinnell’s Finer Foods: Half-off a pound of Benton’s Bacon until Jan. 1.

* The Second Yard: 10 percent off framed art and lamps during the event.

* Goldsmith’s Jewelers: Free cleaning and inspection of jewelry during the event and a $50 gift certificate for $25 (must be redeemed by Dec. 31).

* 7-Eleven: $10 off a case of wine and a free small Slurpee during the event.

* Bubblecake: Cupcake cards offering five cupcakes for $10 during the event.

* Stedman House Interior Design: 10 percent off during the event.

* Eric Fitzpatrick: The artist will be selling paintings in the Stedman House Building during the event.

It’s not all about the shopping, though. Ticket proceeds will benefit Family Promise of Greater Roanoke, of which Ellerman is a board member. The organization provides shelter to homeless families.

“The basis of Christmas is ‘there’s no room at the inn,’ and here we are providing shelter to people who need it,” Ellerman said.

If the event is held in the future another charity may be chosen, but the partnership seemed fitting and the selection was supported by other participants of the event this year.

So far, the response from participating businesses and neighborhood residents has been positive.

“Grandin has a wonderful holiday parade, Old Southwest has the parlor tour, downtown has Dickens — I thought it was about time for South Roanoke to do something neat for our neighborhood. I hope folks from all neighborhoods will come,” Ellerman said.

If the event is successful, she plans to hold it again next year.

For now, Ellerman is just hoping the finished product resembles that memory from her childhood.

“Next year I really need to get some cute kids singing I guess, to really make it complete.

For more information about the South Roanoke Holiday Open House, visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SouthRoanokeHolidayOpenHouse.

South Roanoke Holiday Open House
When: 6 to 9 p.m., Monday
Where: Crystal Spring Avenue, Roanoke
Cost: $15
Contact: 400-6830 or www.facebook.com/SouthRoanokeHolidayOpenHouse