The big tent is up in McGuckin Hardware’s west parking lot for the fabled store’s semi-annual tent sale from Thursday, May 5 to Sunday, May 8. The sale offers up to 70% off all items under the big top and 10% off indoor merchandise. You’ll find hardware, housewares, tools, electrical and plumbing supplies, painting supplies, gardening items, decorative items, school supplies, sporting goods, miscellaneous apparel and more. Some are markdowns from inventory and others are special purchase merchandise. On Saturday, live entertainment, tastings and demos take place. Tent sale hours are the same as regular store hours — Thursday and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. McGuckin’s postal address is 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder (but it is physically on the northwest corner of The Village shopping center, that is, Folsom and Canyon), 303-443-1822. Other merchants and restaurants in the shopping center piggyback onto the McGuckin’s sale and offer specials too (usually 10% off) with the presentation of a McGuckin’s receipt. Just a a couple of short blocks away Mike’s Camera holds its annual tent sale and warehouse clearance sale on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 6 to 8 with savings to 75% on current camera models, great values on brand-name factory-refurbished and open-box demo cameras, printers, lenses and binoculars. Mike’s also offers cash for trade-ins and trade-up bonuses. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 2500 Pearl St., Boulder