[Disclosure: I received some complimentary products and admission to a ticketed session at the Vera Bradley outlet sale in Fort Wayne, Indiana. All thoughts, stories, and opinions are my own.]

Talk about a wake-up call! The morning the sale started, I flipped on the TV in my hotel room to watch a little bit of local news before starting the day. The main story? You guessed it: The Vera Bradley outlet sale. On-screen, droves of women gathered outside the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, where reporters interviewed shoppers who’d traveled from near and far to get in on the action. I remember one woman in particular who was visiting with a group of family members. They’d woken up before dawn to travel from hours away, a tradition they carried out every year.

This was going to be a much bigger deal than I had realized.

Vera Bradley Outlet Sale: When You Get There

When you arrive at the Vera Bradley outlet sale, you’ll receive a price guide/map (to help you locate items in the 100,000 square-foot space) and a huge bag to carry any items you plan on purchasing (for security purposes, your items will be transferred to a different color bag upon checkout). If you’ve signed up for a ticketed session (totally worth the $5 to enjoy lighter crowd levels), you’ll have a set amount of time to shop and when time’s up, you’re outta there. But really—there are announcements, countdowns, and security guards who will kindly usher you out at the end of the session, so be sure to locate what you want quickly and efficiently!

Throughout your shopping session, you may also hear announcements for flash sales. These sales feature specific items that are marked down below their sale price for a limited time, so keep your ears open!

Vera Bradley Outlet Sale: What You’ll Find

I’ve got to hand it to Vera Bradley—this brand has come SO far since my college days! No longer are we limited to paisley totes in pastel shades (although, they still have those if that’s up your alley). Rather, there are now countless florals, modern patterns (chevrons, anyone?), solids, saturated hues, and even leather options to choose from. Oh, and just so you know, Vera isn’t just bags and luggage, either. At this sale, I found umbrellas, blankets, stationery, perfume, sunglasses, robes, slippers, flip-flops, lunch boxes, towels, and SO MUCH MORE. There’s literally something available for every aspect of your life, and you may find it difficult to draw the line between need and want . . . but at 40 to 60 percent off, there’s plenty of room for both. ;-)

Vera Bradley Foundation For Breast Cancer

Did you know that Vera Bradley has its own cancer research center? Founded in 1998, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer funds research at its own laboratories in the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center through a portion of company profits. In addition to regular sales, the Vera Bradley outlet sale provides extra opportunities to donate to the foundation, including special raffles. If you’re in attendance, make sure to support this worthy cause!
April 11-15, 2018

**Note: The first three days of the sale are ticketed ($5 admission) and the last two days are free admission. Advance registration is required regardless of which day(s) you attend.

>>(Click here for schedule, registration details, and to purchase tickets)<<

General Parking (cars, vans) - $5.00 per vehicle; no in/out privileges
Buses/RVs - $15.00 per vehicle
Preferred Parking - $8.00 per vehicle

Shopping Restrictions:

Customers at the 2018 Vera Bradley outlet sale are limited to a total spending amount of $3,500 (for the entire sale, not just per day). For questions/updated information, click here.

Things To Do In Fort Wayne:

Looking for fun things to do in Fort Wayne? From restaurants and city adventures to museums and Amish country, there’s tons to enjoy! Check out my list and get started planning your itinerary through the link below:

Will you be attending the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale this year? Who would you take with you on this fun road trip?