Summer is the time of the flea market! Hunt for Peanuts goodies in an open-air market, get some exercise and enjoy the weather. Good preparation is key to a successful day at the flea market.
What is a Flea Market?
The advantage of a flea market is a lot of stuff all in one place. Each vendor has a space filled with their wares. Most items are easily accessed for close examinations of any flaws or missing pieces. If you find something you want, you buy directly from the vendor. Haggling and bundling is common, leading to better prices for the buyer.
Every flea market is a new experience! Antique and collectible specific flea markets are great for finding a variety of Peanuts items, but they may be priced higher for the collector crowd. A more general flea market may be sparse on the pristine vintage buys but can sometimes yield a fruitful harvest at a lower price. You may come away with nothing, or you might need to visit the ATM for that can’t-pass-up purchase. The joy of a flea market is in the discovery, and it’s not always Peanuts collectibles!
Flea Market Essentials
CARRY IT WITH YOU
COMFORTABLE SHOES
Money
RELIABLE, LIGHT BAG
Whether you’re carrying cash or precious Snoopy finds, you’ll want a reliable, light bag! Take only the essentials to give you more space and save your back. I use a Snoopy backpack (affiliate link). It has pockets for water bottles, is comfortable to wear and holds a lot of items! I used to wear a purse, but it would hurt my shoulder and it’s another thing to hold. The backpack is out of my way, yet keeps everything within reach. Inside, I like to throw in a couple sturdy, reusable tote bags. If you have an overflow, or a vendor bag breaks, you’ve got backups!
FULLY-CHARGED CELL PHONE
PEANUTS SHIRT
BUSINESS CARDS
WATER
AN OPEN MIND
OTHER ITEMS I LIKE TO BRING
KEEP IT IN THE CAR
PEANUTS COLLECTOR GUIDES
Unless you’re a newbie, keep your Peanuts Collector Guides in the car. They’ll be handy if you need them, but not an extra burden on your back.
WEATHER GEAR
A CART
SNACKS
EXTRA SHOES
Finding Flea Markets
Now that you know what to bring, where should you go? My boyfriend and I have been doing a lot more camping on the weekends and a flea market is a perfect way to find a new destination. I’ve been searching for great resources and found a few I’ll be using in the future.
FleaPortal.com is a community for submitting flea markets, antique shops, thrift stores and more. Out of all the sites I found, this one is the easiest to use and looks great, too!
Not sure where to start? TheSpruce.com has some articles for piquing your interest in some of the bigger flea markets around the country.
Your state tourism website is a great place to look for flea markets. Smaller local affairs might yield great and inexpensive finds.
Google it! When hunting for bargains and treasures, hone your skills at your favorite search engine.
Share Your finds!
Are you a flea market fanatic? Share your favorite Peanuts finds and flea market recommendations on our Facebook page.
