Ready, Set … Let’s Get Out There and Enjoy Spring’s Best Flea Markets!
The days are becoming warmer and spring fever is peaking for flea market fans cooped up during the winter months. Spring is the best time to find antiques and collectibles — including vintage furniture, clothing and jewelry — that dealers discovered during the winter. As you charge out to find your treasures, don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, a bright hat or jacket so friends can find you in the crowd, and bring an umbrella just in case spring showers make an appearance. Each of the markets we mention are known for their variety and popularity among both vendors and shoppers across the U.S. Here is our listing of a dozen flea markets worth visiting.
Don’t forget to negotiate — and share with us any of your favorites we may have overlooked!
1. Original Round Top Antiques Fair – Spring Antique Week
March 30-April 4, 2020
4036 Texas Hwy., Round Top, Texas
This is “the show that started it all!” Everything is bigger in Texas and its premier flea market is no exception. Spring and Fall Antiques Fairs are held during the week that ends on the first Saturdays of April and October each year. This year it runs from March 30 through April 4. The marketplace with 100 percent antique and vintage merchandise, attracting thousands of dealers and tens of thousands of buyers from around the world. There are four locations in Round Top — the Big Red Barn, Big Red Barn Tent, Continental Tent and Carmine Dance Hall. Find American and European antiques, vintage decorator items and collectibles, all kinds of art, glass, signs, toys, clothes, jewelry, architectural and repurposed items, and much more. Admission is $10, $20 for a VIP early shopping pass. Parking is free. There also are more than 50 other shows that run at the same time in neighboring communities (like Warrenton, Carmine and Shelby) within about 15 miles of Round Top, mostly along Highway 237. For information on those, contact the Round Top Chamber of Commerce or the City of Warrenton.
2. Kane County Flea Market
April 4 & 5, May 2 & 3, June 6 & 7, 2020
525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles, Illinois
A great place to shop in Chicagoland, Kane County Flea Market is held on the first Sunday of each month and the Saturday before from March to December. It is located about an hour west of Chicago and features more than 600 dealers inside, outside and under sheds, with antiques, refurbished furniture, vinyl records and sports collectibles. Hours are Saturday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $5, children under 12 are free. Parking is free.
3. Alameda Point Antiques Faire
April 5, May 3, June 7, 2020
2900 Navy Way (at Main St.), Alameda, California
California’s largest antique show, the show is called the “Brimfield of the West.” This is the place to shop for vintage, retro and antique home decorations, clothing, furniture, jewelry, art, pottery, books and collectibles. All items are 20 years old or older. Admission is $15, 6 a.m.-9 a.m.; $5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., free for ages15 and younger with an adult. Parking is free and there is a shuttle.
4. Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market
March 21 & 22, April 18 &19, May 15, 16 & 17 Extravaganza, and June 20 & 21, 2020
Clark County Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ohio
The Springfield Antiques Show and Flea Market has been called “One of America’s Best” by CNN and some top publications. Held nine times a year at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ohio, it is known for a vast selection of antique and vintage items, as well as mid-century modern pieces. In addition to the regular shows, there are Extravaganza weekends in May and September that feature more than 2,000 vendors, 20,000 customers and lots and lots of food. They pride themselves on a unique mix, saying to “expect the unexpected” vintage, antique, re- & up-cycled, artisanal goods and locally sourced producers. Admission: $3, children under 16 free. (Sign up for email list for monthly specials); Extravaganzas admission: early bird 7 a.m.-noon on Friday, $15. That includes re-admission rest of weekend. General admission is $10, noon-6 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
5. Nashville Flea Market
March 27, 28 & 20, April 24, 25 & 26, May 22, 23 & 24, June 26, 27 & 28, 2020.
Nashville Expo Center, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, Tennessee. For GPS, use 500 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, Tennessee
thefairgrounds.com/fleamarket/dates.asp
The Nashville Flea Market is considered by many to be one of the top 10 flea markets in the country. It’s been operating for almost 60 years. With an average of 2,000 booths, dealers and vendors from 30 states offer items every month. It advertises a huge and unique selection of antique furniture, dishware, clothing, rugs, jewelry, leather goods, more, as well as specialty foods. One thing that sets the Nashville Flea Market apart from other flea markets is its monthly themes. Past themes have included things like retro revival, romance junkies, down memory lane, vintage galore, Americana cool and old-school rules. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free.
6. Rose Bowl Flea Market
Yep, THE Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California
April 12, May 10, June 14, 2020 (Second Sunday of every month)
https://www.rgcshows.com/rose-bowl/
This is considered one of the best flea markets on the West Coast. It attracts as many as 2,500 vendors and 20,000 shoppers. Find clothes, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, ceramics, glass, furniture, pictures, crafts, keepsakes, art, fabric, bikes, costumes, music — every imaginable type of merchandise. It’s open rain or shine. Admission: Special preview VIP admission from 5 a.m.-7 a.m., $20; 7 a.m.-8 a.m., $15; regular admission, 9 a.m., $9. Children under 12 are free with an adult. No credit cards. There’s no admission after 3 p.m. Free parking, lots of food from cheeseburgers to sushi, and even celebrity sightings.
7. Long Beach Antique Flea Market
March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, 2020 (Third Sunday of every month)
Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 4901 E. Conant St., Long Beach, California
The Long Beach Antique Market calls itself “The Flea Market with Style.” More than 800 sellers feature a huge selection of antiques, collectibles and everything chic, cheap, unique and vintage, all at bargain prices. Find collectibles, home decor, jewelry, furniture, vintage clothing and more. The sale is spread out over 20 acres at the Veterans Stadium in Long Beach. Admission, 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $6; early admission, from 5:30 a.m.-6:30 a.m., $12; children under 12 are free. There’s food and free parking, too.
8. Renninger’s Kutztown Antique and Collector’s Extravaganza
April 24 & 25, June 26 & 27, 2020
740 Noble St., Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Renninger’s Kutztown hosts a flea market extravaganza three times a year, April, June and September. The extravaganza is set up behind Renninger’s Antique & Farmer’s Market, with exhibitors outside, under tents and in two 350-foot long pavilions. The Indoor Antique Market and the Indoor Farmer’s Market are also open during the Extravaganza. Admission is Early Buyer $10 on Friday, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., and $6 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $6. On Saturday, $5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
9. Custer’s 45th Annual Spring Antique & Collectors Sale
April 24, 25 & 26, 2020
Spokane Fair Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. Spokane, Washington
http://custershows.com/home.php?flag=1&secid=4
This event is the largest indoor antique and collectors’ sale of its kind in the Inland Northwest with 200 dealers participating from all over the west coast. Shop among thousands of vintage treasures rare to retro, including kitchenware, industrial, estate and costume jewelry, furniture, primitives, rustic garden, elegant glass, shabby chic, prints and more. Find antiques in all price ranges for the discriminating collector to the treasure hunter. Friday, 4 p.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday,10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $6, with children 12 and under free. Admission is good for whole weekend. Free parking.
10. D.C. Big Flea & Antiques Market
July 11 & 12, 2020
Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, Virginia
https://www.thebigfleamarket.com/dc-show
The D.C. Flea is the mid-Atlantic’s largest indoor antiques and collectibles flea market. Shop for anything from fine antiques to vintage clothing and accessories at more than 700 booths in two halls. Dealers showcase a wide variety of merchandise including porcelain, glass, silver, jewelry, collectibles from all eras, art and lots of mid-century modern. Hours are Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $10.
11. Rocky Mountain Antique Festival
April 24, 25 & 26, 2020
Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock, Colorado
https://www.heritageeventcompany.com/castle_rock_antique_show.html
Enjoy quality authentic antique and vintage shopping featuring dealers from 15 states. There will be dealers selling jewelry, postcards, primitives, 1950s dinettes, furniture, western, art pottery, art glass, comic books, Native American, vintage clothing, toys, lighting, cameras and much more. Hours are Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for children ages 9-12; ages 8 and under are free. (Hint: purchase tickets online for a discount.) Free parking. Look for other Rocky Mountain Antique Festivals in Loveland, Colorado, March 21 & 22, and July 11 & 12.
12. Brimfield Antiques and Collectibles Show
May 12-17, 2020
Brimfield Town Hall, 23 Main St., Brimfield, Massachusetts. If you use a GPS, use 35 Palmer
Road, Brimfield, Massachusetts, 01010
Make your way to central Massachusetts to visit the market that attracts more than 50,000 people three times a year. The six-day Brimfield Flea Market hosts Tuesday-through-Sunday shows each year in May (see above), July 14-19 and Sept. 8-13, 2020. More than 20 fields of dealers make up the market, with staggered openings and closings. Some fields have an admission fee of about $5 but most are free. This market stretches along a mile on both sides of Route 20, is an exciting tradition that attracts visitors from many states and countries.
Kovels.com has more information and tips on navigating flea markets, negotiating smart deals and identifying original objects. Kovels’ booklet, Flea Market Strategies: How to Shop, Buy, and Bargain the 21st-Century Way, has tips on what to wear, what to bring along and how to negotiate. Also included, tips on spotting fakes, advice on how to pay for purchases, and a list of the latest smartphone apps to help buyers shop, share and ship.
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