COEUR d’ALENE — Winter enthusiasts don't have to wait for Santa to bring them new gear for playing in the snow.

They can find jackets, helmets, skis, snowboards, boots, gloves and more for discounted prices at the 19th annual Winter Swap this weekend, and no one has to tumble down a chimney to claim those bargain deals.

"Anything nowadays is expensive," Deb Castellan, secretary of the Lookout Ski Patrol, said during setup Thursday afternoon. "It’s really nice for kids' helmets, skis and boots because they grow so quick."

Buildings 1, 2 and 3 of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds will be brimming with cold-weather merchandise Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The swap is organized by and benefits Silver Mountain and Lookout ski patrols as well as Lookout's race team and free ski school.

Last year, up to 1,800 people came through to capitalize on the swap's low prices.

“This pair of boots is $189," Castellan said, pulling a white boot from a shelf. "If you had two adults skiing and they have to get boots and you go retail, that would probably cost you $800. For families it makes a big difference."

Merchandise from 13 different vendors will be available for purchase. Several ski patrol volunteers will be on site during the swap to assist customers as they search for the right sizes, colors and styles to suit them this season.

"We do expect to have snow this weekend," said Brenda Steinbach, vice president of Lookout Ski Patrol.

Coeur d'Alene's northern neighbors are under a winter storm warning issued Thursday by the National Weather Service while hazardous weather is expected in the Coeur d'Alene area and a winter weather advisory is calling for moderate to heavy snow in northern mountains and valleys through this morning.

Rick Schoonmaker, assistant pro patrol director at Lookout, said their mountain is already seeing a good amount of snow.

“About a foot today,” he said.

The swap is $5 to enter and free for those 12 and younger.

Consignment registration to sell gear at the swap is from 3 to 8 p.m. today. If an item sells, 25 percent of the sale is retained by Winter Swap.

The Kootenai County Fairgrounds are located at 4056 N. Government Way.

Info: www.winterswap.com