GaryMrMets
05-18-2002, 03:54 PM
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Flea-Market Know-How
Get the tips and tools to shop flea markets intelligently, plus find a flea market near you.
Flea Market Know-How
If you are already an antiquing pro and regularly schedule vacations, work, and even surgery around flea markets and auctions, then this listing will just confirm what you already know to be the best collectibles hot spots countrywide-and abroad.
For novices, this information will serve as a handy agenda as well as a plan of action if you ever want to achieve the highly coveted "I Brake for Flea Markets" bumper sticker. As you peruse the list, we invite your comments about shows you've attended or heard about. You can even add shows we might have missed.
Tips
What to Wear
* Old clothes, and bring a pair of gloves
* Limited jewelry. Displays of wealth discourage bargaining.
* A money belt or hip pack to keep keys and cash safe, and a backpack to keep your hands free
What to Bring
* Tape measure
* Magnifying glass
* Flashlight
* Illustrated guidebooks with manufacturer's marks and prices, such as The Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual
* Lunch and snacks
* Cash (personal checks and credit cards are usually not accepted)
How to Haggle
* The question, "Will you take $X for this?" is acceptable at garage sales, but the amount must be reasonable.
* In all situations, from flea markets to big-city antiques shows, simply ask the dealer, "Is this your best price?" Neither buyer nor seller should be embarrassed, and 75 percent of the time you can, in fact, get a better buy.
* "Firm" on the ticket means the dealer must have that amount.
* Multi-item purchases may bring a better price for the entire lot.
Market List (A-G)
If you like to make antiquing part of your vacation travels, consider including the following shows in your plans. There's something for everyone, from old-fashioned trade days to high-end antiques shows. Please note that this information is correct now, but it may change in the future. It's best to call ahead before making the trek.
Alabama
Scottsboro: First Monday Trade Days, year-round, the first Monday of the month and the preceding weekend. Since the 1850s, people have come to the square around the courthouse to swap and trade. Free admission. Call 800-259-5508 for more information.
California
San Francisco: Treasure Island Flea Market, Sundays year-round. 100 to 150 vendors. Parking free; admission $2. The market is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., but some dealers start to pack up around 2 p.m. Call 415-255-1923 for more information, or check Pasadena: Rose Bowl Flea Market and Swap Meet, year-round, second Sunday of the month. 2,200 dealers. Admission: preview/VIP, 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., $15; early, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., $10; general, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $5. Call 323-560-7469 for directions and more information.
Connecticut
Farmington: Farmington Antiques Weekend, second weekend in June and Labor Day weekend. About 600 dealers offer everything from formal furniture to country pieces, sterling silver, and prints; no reproductions, no new merchandise. Admission: early buyer, Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., $25; general, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5. Saturday admission includes free pass for Sunday; ask at the ticket booth. Call 800-494-0051 for directions, or to receive a brochure, e-mail Revival Promotions or visit www.farmington-antiques.com.
Revival Promotions e-mail
Farmington Antiques
Florida
Mt. Dora: Renninger's Florida Twin Markets, 20 miles north of Orlando; open year-round with three-day extravaganzas in January, February, and November. 1,400 dealers from around the country. Admission: early buyer (Friday), $10; general, Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5; Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3. Call 800-522-3555 for more information, or visit www.renningers.com.
Renningers.com
Georgia
Atlanta: Lakewood Antiques Market, south of the city on I-75. Year-round, second weekend of the month. 1,500 dealers. Admission: early (Thursday), $5; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, $3. Free parking. Call 404-622-4488 for directions.
Lakewood Antiques Market
Market List (I-M)
Illinois
Grayslake: Grayslake Antiques, collectibles and flea market at the fairgrounds, second Sunday of the month year-round. 350 antiques dealers in four buildings; flea market runs concurrently outdoors. Admission: early, 6:30 a.m., $15; general, 8 a.m., $4. The market closes at 3 p.m. Call 847-223-2204 for more information.
St. Charles: Kane County Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds, 35 miles west of Chicago. Year-round, the first Saturday of the month (12 noon to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.). 600 dealers in winter months, up to 1,500 in summer. Admission: $5; children and parking free. Call 630-377-2252 for more information.
Sandwich: Sandwich Antiques Market, U.S. 34, 60 miles southwest of Chicago. One Sunday a month, usually the third or fourth weekend, May through October; call 815-786-3337 for exact dates. 600 dealers indoors and out. Admission: $5, children under 12 free.
Iowa
Des Moines: Historic Valley Junction Antiques Jamboree, second Sunday of June, August, and September, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 150 vendors from around the Midwest. Free admission, free parking. Call 515-222-3642 for more information.
What Cheer: Collector's Paradise Flea Market, Inc., at the Fairgrounds, 20 miles south of I-80 on Highway 21. First weekend in May, August, and October. 300 to 500 dealers. Admission: $2 early (Friday), $1 Saturday and Sunday. Opens at 7 a.m. Call 515-634-2109 for more information.
Kentucky
Mount Sterling: October Court Days, I-64 east of Lexington, west of Ashland; the third Monday in October and the preceding weekend. Old-fashioned trade days. Free admission. Call the Chamber of Commerce for details, 606-498-5343.
Maryland
West Friendship: Mid-Atlantic Antiques Market, Howard County Fairgrounds, west of Baltimore. Last Sunday in March and October; 120 exhibitors from all over the country. Admission: early, 7:30 a.m., $15; general, 9 a.m., $6. Call Sims Rogers at 410-228-8858 for more information.
Massachusetts
Brimfield: Brimfield Outdoor Antiques and Collectibles Show, Route 20, 1 hour from Boston; held in May, July, and September, Tuesday through Sunday. Call 413-283-6149 for dates, directions, and a schedule of events during the week. The show covers several fields; most are free, but some charge $5 admission.
Market List (N-V)
New Hampshire
Manchester: Antiques Week in New Hampshire, the week after the first Saturday in August. A series of shows featuring Americana, folk art, and country antiques opens during the week. Each charges an admission fee of about $8. No early buyer admissions, but opening hours are staggered. Call 207-767-3967 for directions and schedule.
New Jersey
Atlantic City: "Atlantique City Holiday Megafair-the largest indoor art, antique, and collectibles show in the world." March and October. 1,600 dealers in 7-1/2 indoor acres, includes dealers from 41 states plus Canada, Europe, and the Far East. Admission: advance-purchase tickets cost less than if you buy at the box office, and one- or two-day passes are also available. Call 800-526-2724 for a courtesy pack with early entry tickets and hotel and airline discounts.
New Mexico
Santa Fe: Santa Fe Antiques Show, at the Sweeney Convention Center, July 4th weekend and DecIber 27-29. 100 dealers. Admission: $7.50 per day or $12 for a two-day pass. Call 505-753-2553.
New York
New York City: Annex Antiques Fair and Flea Market, 6th Avenue at 26th Street; year-round, Saturday and Sunday, sunrise to sunset. Admission $1 at one location, others free. Call 212-243-5343.
New York City: Soho Antiques Fair, on the corner of Broadway and Grand Street, two blocks north of Canal Street; Saturday and Sunday year-round, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 50 to 100 vendors offer a variety of antiques and imported handcrafts. Call 212-682-2000 for information.
Rhinebeck: Rhinebeck Antiques Fair at the county fairgrounds. Memorial Day weekend (observed), fourth Saturday in July, and Columbus Day weekend (observed). 190 dealers offering high-quality antiques, period English and French furniture, vintage textiles, Staffordshire, and country painted furniture. Admission: $7 in May and October, $6 in July. Call 914-876-1989 for information.
North Carolina
Charlotte: Great American Antiques Spectacular, off I-77, exit 16A east on Sunset Road. Held in April, June, and November on the first Saturday of the month and the preceding Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indoors and out, 6,000 dealers (4,000 in June) offer antiques and antique collectibles from around the world. Smaller shows are held in the rIaining months. Call 704-596-4643 or 800-824-3770 for details.
Pennsylvania
Kutztown: Renninger's Antiques, Collectibles, and Farmer's Market, south of Allentown. Extravaganzas, last full weekend in April, June, and September. Admission: early buyers (Thursday) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $40 per car (one to three passengers; the pass is good for all three days); general admission Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., $6; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., $4. Call 877-385-0104 for directions, or check the Web site, www.renningers.com.
www.renningers.com
Flea-Market Know-How
Get the tips and tools to shop flea markets intelligently, plus find a flea market near you.
Flea Market Know-How
If you are already an antiquing pro and regularly schedule vacations, work, and even surgery around flea markets and auctions, then this listing will just confirm what you already know to be the best collectibles hot spots countrywide-and abroad.
For novices, this information will serve as a handy agenda as well as a plan of action if you ever want to achieve the highly coveted "I Brake for Flea Markets" bumper sticker. As you peruse the list, we invite your comments about shows you've attended or heard about. You can even add shows we might have missed.
Tips
What to Wear
* Old clothes, and bring a pair of gloves
* Limited jewelry. Displays of wealth discourage bargaining.
* A money belt or hip pack to keep keys and cash safe, and a backpack to keep your hands free
What to Bring
* Tape measure
* Magnifying glass
* Flashlight
* Illustrated guidebooks with manufacturer's marks and prices, such as The Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual
* Lunch and snacks
* Cash (personal checks and credit cards are usually not accepted)
How to Haggle
* The question, "Will you take $X for this?" is acceptable at garage sales, but the amount must be reasonable.
* In all situations, from flea markets to big-city antiques shows, simply ask the dealer, "Is this your best price?" Neither buyer nor seller should be embarrassed, and 75 percent of the time you can, in fact, get a better buy.
* "Firm" on the ticket means the dealer must have that amount.
* Multi-item purchases may bring a better price for the entire lot.
Market List (A-G)
If you like to make antiquing part of your vacation travels, consider including the following shows in your plans. There's something for everyone, from old-fashioned trade days to high-end antiques shows. Please note that this information is correct now, but it may change in the future. It's best to call ahead before making the trek.
Alabama
Scottsboro: First Monday Trade Days, year-round, the first Monday of the month and the preceding weekend. Since the 1850s, people have come to the square around the courthouse to swap and trade. Free admission. Call 800-259-5508 for more information.
California
San Francisco: Treasure Island Flea Market, Sundays year-round. 100 to 150 vendors. Parking free; admission $2. The market is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., but some dealers start to pack up around 2 p.m. Call 415-255-1923 for more information, or check Pasadena: Rose Bowl Flea Market and Swap Meet, year-round, second Sunday of the month. 2,200 dealers. Admission: preview/VIP, 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., $15; early, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., $10; general, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $5. Call 323-560-7469 for directions and more information.
Connecticut
Farmington: Farmington Antiques Weekend, second weekend in June and Labor Day weekend. About 600 dealers offer everything from formal furniture to country pieces, sterling silver, and prints; no reproductions, no new merchandise. Admission: early buyer, Saturday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., $25; general, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5. Saturday admission includes free pass for Sunday; ask at the ticket booth. Call 800-494-0051 for directions, or to receive a brochure, e-mail Revival Promotions or visit www.farmington-antiques.com.
Revival Promotions e-mail
Farmington Antiques
Florida
Mt. Dora: Renninger's Florida Twin Markets, 20 miles north of Orlando; open year-round with three-day extravaganzas in January, February, and November. 1,400 dealers from around the country. Admission: early buyer (Friday), $10; general, Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., $5; Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3. Call 800-522-3555 for more information, or visit www.renningers.com.
Renningers.com
Georgia
Atlanta: Lakewood Antiques Market, south of the city on I-75. Year-round, second weekend of the month. 1,500 dealers. Admission: early (Thursday), $5; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, $3. Free parking. Call 404-622-4488 for directions.
Lakewood Antiques Market
Market List (I-M)
Illinois
Grayslake: Grayslake Antiques, collectibles and flea market at the fairgrounds, second Sunday of the month year-round. 350 antiques dealers in four buildings; flea market runs concurrently outdoors. Admission: early, 6:30 a.m., $15; general, 8 a.m., $4. The market closes at 3 p.m. Call 847-223-2204 for more information.
St. Charles: Kane County Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds, 35 miles west of Chicago. Year-round, the first Saturday of the month (12 noon to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.). 600 dealers in winter months, up to 1,500 in summer. Admission: $5; children and parking free. Call 630-377-2252 for more information.
Sandwich: Sandwich Antiques Market, U.S. 34, 60 miles southwest of Chicago. One Sunday a month, usually the third or fourth weekend, May through October; call 815-786-3337 for exact dates. 600 dealers indoors and out. Admission: $5, children under 12 free.
Iowa
Des Moines: Historic Valley Junction Antiques Jamboree, second Sunday of June, August, and September, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 150 vendors from around the Midwest. Free admission, free parking. Call 515-222-3642 for more information.
What Cheer: Collector's Paradise Flea Market, Inc., at the Fairgrounds, 20 miles south of I-80 on Highway 21. First weekend in May, August, and October. 300 to 500 dealers. Admission: $2 early (Friday), $1 Saturday and Sunday. Opens at 7 a.m. Call 515-634-2109 for more information.
Kentucky
Mount Sterling: October Court Days, I-64 east of Lexington, west of Ashland; the third Monday in October and the preceding weekend. Old-fashioned trade days. Free admission. Call the Chamber of Commerce for details, 606-498-5343.
Maryland
West Friendship: Mid-Atlantic Antiques Market, Howard County Fairgrounds, west of Baltimore. Last Sunday in March and October; 120 exhibitors from all over the country. Admission: early, 7:30 a.m., $15; general, 9 a.m., $6. Call Sims Rogers at 410-228-8858 for more information.
Massachusetts
Brimfield: Brimfield Outdoor Antiques and Collectibles Show, Route 20, 1 hour from Boston; held in May, July, and September, Tuesday through Sunday. Call 413-283-6149 for dates, directions, and a schedule of events during the week. The show covers several fields; most are free, but some charge $5 admission.
Market List (N-V)
New Hampshire
Manchester: Antiques Week in New Hampshire, the week after the first Saturday in August. A series of shows featuring Americana, folk art, and country antiques opens during the week. Each charges an admission fee of about $8. No early buyer admissions, but opening hours are staggered. Call 207-767-3967 for directions and schedule.
New Jersey
Atlantic City: "Atlantique City Holiday Megafair-the largest indoor art, antique, and collectibles show in the world." March and October. 1,600 dealers in 7-1/2 indoor acres, includes dealers from 41 states plus Canada, Europe, and the Far East. Admission: advance-purchase tickets cost less than if you buy at the box office, and one- or two-day passes are also available. Call 800-526-2724 for a courtesy pack with early entry tickets and hotel and airline discounts.
New Mexico
Santa Fe: Santa Fe Antiques Show, at the Sweeney Convention Center, July 4th weekend and DecIber 27-29. 100 dealers. Admission: $7.50 per day or $12 for a two-day pass. Call 505-753-2553.
New York
New York City: Annex Antiques Fair and Flea Market, 6th Avenue at 26th Street; year-round, Saturday and Sunday, sunrise to sunset. Admission $1 at one location, others free. Call 212-243-5343.
New York City: Soho Antiques Fair, on the corner of Broadway and Grand Street, two blocks north of Canal Street; Saturday and Sunday year-round, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 50 to 100 vendors offer a variety of antiques and imported handcrafts. Call 212-682-2000 for information.
Rhinebeck: Rhinebeck Antiques Fair at the county fairgrounds. Memorial Day weekend (observed), fourth Saturday in July, and Columbus Day weekend (observed). 190 dealers offering high-quality antiques, period English and French furniture, vintage textiles, Staffordshire, and country painted furniture. Admission: $7 in May and October, $6 in July. Call 914-876-1989 for information.
North Carolina
Charlotte: Great American Antiques Spectacular, off I-77, exit 16A east on Sunset Road. Held in April, June, and November on the first Saturday of the month and the preceding Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indoors and out, 6,000 dealers (4,000 in June) offer antiques and antique collectibles from around the world. Smaller shows are held in the rIaining months. Call 704-596-4643 or 800-824-3770 for details.
Pennsylvania
Kutztown: Renninger's Antiques, Collectibles, and Farmer's Market, south of Allentown. Extravaganzas, last full weekend in April, June, and September. Admission: early buyers (Thursday) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $40 per car (one to three passengers; the pass is good for all three days); general admission Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., $6; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., $4. Call 877-385-0104 for directions, or check the Web site, www.renningers.com.
www.renningers.com