Why should shopping for great antique and collectible bargains, chatting with dealers and munching on local snacks be limited to summer and fall months? Here are 6 favorite indoor flea markets that are worth a trip. Each is renowned for its scale, variety of items, negotiable prices and popularity among both locals and tourists. Best of all, they are opportunities to have fun, learn something new and knock some items off the holiday gift list.
1. “Shipshewana Across the Road” Indoor Market
Farmstead Expo Barn, 368 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana, Indiana
Fridays and Saturdays until December 16, plus Tuesday, November 28, for Wana Night Out
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shipshewana Flea Market is heading “across the road” and opening a new indoor market for the fall / winter season. Shop 50 to 60 vendors who carry unique gifts, local crafts and a variety of other goods. Stock up on Christmas and holiday gifts. The outdoor pavilion will also be open for vendors to set up in, weather permitting. Admission and parking are free.
2. The Factory Antique Mall
50 Lodge Lane, Verona, Virginia
Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, with 121,000 square feet of antiques, furniture and collectibles (and still growing), the Factory Antique Mall claims to be the largest mall in the country. The flea market is not only famous for its size, but also, thanks to its wide and well-respected collection of rare pieces, it has also been used for set dressing in period films and TV series, including “Lincoln” and “Turn.” Items are sourced from all over the world, so shoppers who are looking for a rare antique or a particular piece for a collection, will find plenty to keep them browsing all day.
3. City-Wide Garage Sale, Keeping Austin Vintage Since 1977
November 11 and 12, 2017, Bell County Expo Center, Belton, Texas
Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $5 (12 and under free).
November 25 and 26, 2017, Palmer Events Center, Austin, Texas
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $7 (12 and under free). Early shopper Saturday only: 8:30 a.m.; $12.
Austin’s famous City-Wide Garage Sale was born in 1977 of the gas shortages, when vendors were eager for a climate-controlled venue to have their garage and rummage sales, advertising included, rain or shine. Antiques and collectibles dealers soon saw opportunity. Over the years, City-Wide Garage Sale has tried to maintain its identity as the place to shop for all things vintage and collectible, no imports, crafts, novelties or assorted new items allowed. Each sale attracts an eclectic mix of shoppers — collectors, college students, interior decorators, set designers, wardrobe consultants, families, and the just plain curious. They are rewarded with an amazing, ever-changing array of vintage and used treasures.
4. Lakewood 400 Antiques Market
1321 Atlanta Highway, Cumming, Georgia
November Market – November 17, 18 and 19, 2017
December Antiques & Gift Market – December 1, 2 and 3, 2017
Hours: Friday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $3 Friday, Saturday & Sunday, ticket good all weekend, children under 12 free
The Lakewood 400 Antiques Market features 500 spaces in a 75,000 foot climate-controlled building. This upscale market is perfect for shoppers hunting for antiques, vintage furniture and accessories, home and garden decor, and services like furniture restoration and appraisal, jewelry repair, and on-site framing. There are also outside veranda and courtyard dealers, plenty of parking and a restaurant. It is heralded by USA Today as one of America’s best.
5. Randolph Street Holiday Market
1340 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois
Saturdays and Sundays, November 18 and 19 and December 16 and 17, 2017; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Chicago’s Randolph Street Market, located west of the Loop, features vintage, antique, and global goods that provide a mix of merchandise for all price ranges, from thrifty to extravagant. Open one weekend during most months throughout the year, professional pickers and deal seekers descend on the three-level market for its storied variety of vintage fashion and apparel, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and paintings. Booths are separated into categories within the market: Chicago Antique Market, Indie Designer Market and Modern Vintage. For those looking for just about anything retro or vintage, this is a great place to go. From embroidered hankies and estate jewelry to vintage and indie fashion, household and kitchen items, memorabilia, and art it’s one-stop shopping for memorable holiday gifts. $10 admission, $8 pre-paid, family package available with drinks and snacks.
6. Scott’s Antique Market
Atlanta Expo Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Thursday, November 9 to Sunday, November 12, 2017
Thursday, December 7 to Sunday, December 10, 2017
Thursday, January 11 to Sunday, January 14, 2018
Scott’s advertises itself “America’s favorite treasure hunt.” It’s one of America’s largest antiques shows, with over 2,000 booths both outdoors and in two buildings with a shuttle that runs back and forth. Browse through furniture, rugs, architectural elements, silver, copper, jewelry, pottery, glass, paper, and housewares for hard-to-find antiques and plenty of bargains.
7. Rose Bowl Flea Market
Pasadena, California
Second Sunday of every month: November 12, December 10, 2017, January 14 and February 11, 2018
This gathering on the second Sunday of every month — outdoors at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena — is considered to be one of the best 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. There’s no admission after 3 p.m., plenty of free parking, lots of food from cheeseburgers to sushi, and even celebrity sightings.
Image courtesy of City-Wide Garage Sale, Austin, Texas.
Please look into the Kane County Flea Market, held the first full weekend of every month from March thru December in St. Charles, Illinois to see if it meets your criteria as a Top Flea Market. Vendors are both outside and inside heated and air conditioned buildings. It is large and that is why it has to be held on the County Fairgrounds.
It always disappoints me that you do not mention the twice a year, three weekend Warrenton/Round Top show. It includes several towns and miles of open spaces with thousands of dealers.
It takes more than a day or two to see the whole thing.
It is amazing and several thousands customers from across the US and around the world attend.