One of the best free shows east of the Mississippi opened this morning in Hillsville. The 43rd annual Labor Day Gun Show and Flea Market is off to one of its best starts in years. Over 500,000 visitors are expected to flood the tiny town in Carroll County over the next four days. Several thousand vendors located in five main venues have brought everything from treasures to trash for sale. If you can’t find it in Hillsville this weekend, you can probably get along without it.

The overwhelming themes though are guns and food. Both are in plentiful supply. The smell of fried onions and roasting meats permeate the air, and the sight of guns is everywhere.

The number of mannequins around is kind of creepy. This year also features a few side show animals to boot.

The best thing though is the people watching. It doesn’t get any better than here.