30 Great Midwest Flea Markets You Should Visit
The temperatures are getting warmer and the days are getting longer, which makes it prime time to check out your local flea market, and prepare your garage your garage for the hot summer months as well!
If you know where to look, it’s possible to find furniture, appliances, kitchenware and other items at a fraction of the price. We’ve rounded up 30 fantastic flea markets in Midwestern states, including Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio Illinois and Wisconsin.
It’s time to start shopping.
And with all your new finds, you'll need to find a way to store and organize it all, so make sure to take a look into our insightful article covering garage organization tips!
Indiana
Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market, Shipshewana
With restaurants, nearby lodging at the Farmstead Inn for tourists, an antique mall and more auctions than you can keep track of, the Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market is one of the biggest in the area. Every Wednesday and Friday, you can bid on horses, livestock, antiques and collectibles. If that’s not enough, from June to September, you can shop antique markets in the mall every Saturday.
Friendship Flea Market, Friendship
Rosemary and Tom Kerr opened Friendship Flea Market in 1969, and it grew from 50 vendors to about 150 in that same year. Today, you can find 500 booths and tables. The market is open twice a year, in June and September. While most vendors at other flea markets pack up their wares and head home for the day mid-afternoon, vendors here will stick around into the evening for late shoppers.
Trader Bucks Flea Markets, Statewide
With five locations across Indiana, Trader Bucks Flea Markets are indoors for convenient shopping any time of the year. The inventory differs depending on which of the five flea markets you visit, but the Trader Bucks website keeps you abreast of the changing items so you know which days to go shopping.
Treasures Indoor Flea Market & Consignment, Camby
Another indoor option, Treasures Indoor Flea Market & Consignment is a newer establishment, founded in 2009. With 40,000 square feet of space and more than 200 vendors, Treasures has established itself as a favorite in Camby. You can sometimes find four-wheelers, dirt bikes and go-karts. More regular inventory includes clothing, books, jewelry, tools, furniture and antiques.
White’s Farm Flea Market & Auctioneers, Brookville
“If it’s Wednesday, it’s White’s,” White’s Farm Flea Market & Auctioneers says. In the spring and summer, the farm has a Twilight Tuesdays event, where the flea market is open for an hour and a half before the consignment auction begins. There’s also live music.
Minnesota
Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days, Oronoco
Make sure to stop by the Oronoco area in mid-August for Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days. Named after the city’s gold prospecting era from the 1850s, this event is certainly like a goldmine for flea market lovers. Anyone in the area can volunteer to work for this nonprofit; help is certainly needed because nearly 1,000 vendors show up.
The Anoka Fling Flea Market, Anoka
Open nearly all year long, the Anoka Fling Flea Market stocks jewelry, collectibles, antiques and more. In the winter, stop by any second Sunday in the month to browse a vast selection of collectibles and antiques. From May until early September, you can shop outdoors monthly on the fourth Sunday.
Junk Bonanza, Shakopee
The Junk Bonanza sets up shop in Shakopee twice a year, first in April and then in September. With plans to expand even further (the flea market also has events in Del Mar, California, and Ridgefield, Washington), the event’s origins are interesting: Ki Nassauer started a company called JUNKMARKET after having some successful yard sales, and the Junk Bonanza was developed from there. Nassauer always has a booth at the event, and there are also giveaways.
St. Cloud Indoor Flea Market, St. Cloud
On days when it’s freezing, raining or sweltering, shop at St. Cloud Indoor Flea Market, where you can find nearly endless deals. Open weekly on Tuesdays through Saturdays, more than 100 vendors sell items like school supplies, office supplies, kitchen décor, smaller furniture, electronics, crocheted pieces, ceramics and vintage antiques. You can even pay via Apple Pay or Bitcoin.
Stop, Swap & Shop, Buck Hill
As the name suggests, you can trade and buy a variety of items at the Stop, Swap & Shop. The vendors may sell art, jewelry, collectibles, clothes, restored furniture, antiques and even homemade food. Some of the vendors make these wares themselves. The market emphasizes that their stock changes regularly, so you won’t ever find the same things twice.
Michigan
Treasure Mart, Ann Arbor
In Michigan, Treasure Mart is open year-round six days a week (excluding Sundays). Primarily known for its furniture, the store also receives a daily inventory of about 2,000 new arrivals if you’re looking for something else. The building itself, once a mill, dates back to the 19th Century.
Michigan Antique Festivals, Davisburg and Midland
In April, May and October, the Michigan Antiques Festival rolls through Davisburg; it stops by the Midland area in June, July and September. With live music and entertainment, the Taste of Michigan culinary experience and classic car shows, there’s a lot more to do than just shop. If you do love old cars, you can join the swap meet or bid in the classic car auction. There’s also a coin show and other antiques for sale.
Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan
Lori and Larry Wood opened the Allegan Antiques Market in 1978 at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. At the time, only about 200 vendors sold their wares. Today, you can find nearly 500 vendors both inside and outside who sell furniture, fishing equipment and supplies, sporting equipment, antique jewelry, fine china, pottery, vintage glass pieces and more.
Dixieland Flea Market, Waterford
Having won the Metro Times’ Best of Detroit Award in 2012, Dixieland Flea Market boasts 75,000 square feet of space with more than 100 vendors inside and 120 booths outside. As one of the longest-running flea markets in Oakland County, there are multiple restaurants on the grounds so you can get some fuel while you shop for antiques and more modern items.
Captain Bizzaro’s Treasure World, Grand Rapids
Calling its inventory “ridiculously cool stuff,” Captain Bizzaro’s Treasure World sells hats, old magazines and other interesting memorabilia. “Once upon a pirate’s tale, there was a wild Captain called Old Bizzaro,” the flea market writes.
“In search for a treasure greater than gold, he traveled the world like no tomorrow. Though he found no gold, he found a vast world full of Bizzaros for which he got his name because his finds were so strange they invented a new word to call ’em.”
Ohio
Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market, Springfield
August through December is Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market season. With at least 2,000 vendors on hand, you should certainly plan to make a day of your visit. More than 25,000 Ohioans shop here yearly, so it’s no wonder that this flea market has landed on numerous top 10 lists from Country Living and CNN.
Westland Flea Market, Columbus
Founded in 1993, the Westland Flea Market has more than 400 booths. The market prides itself on excluding the middleman so you can save big when shopping for home décor, jewelry, sporting goods, video games and consoles, televisions, laptops, tablets and more. Stop by any weekend.
Rogers Community Auction, Rogers
Calling itself the place “where buyers and sellers get together,” Emmet Baer opened Rogers Community Auction on eight acres of land in 1955. In 2015, Ohio Magazine ranked it at the top of its list of the most exceptional flea markets in the state. In most cases, you bid on the items available, but you can also buy items at booths. With pony rides and a farmer’s market full of fresh produce and goodies, this flea market almost feels like strolling through a county fair.
Treasure Aisles Flea Market, Monroe
You’ll see why it’s called Treasure Aisles Flea Market when you stop by any weekend. Nearly 10,000 shoppers will gather to browse the 500-plus booths. There are spots around the climate-controlled building to grab food as you search for slashed prices on hot electronics, crafts, tools, clothes, jewelry and more.
Jamie’s Flea Market, Amherst
Jamie’s Flea Market is one of Northern Ohio’s oldest, having served Amherst residents for more than 40 years. Between the outdoor and indoor spaces (the grounds have two buildings), there are more than 200 booths. Just some of the items you can find include video games, toys, musical instruments, timepieces, vintage stamps and coins. No matter what time you stop by, Jamie’s has concessions stands cooking up breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Illinois
Randolph Street Market, Chicago
Although winter may not be the ideal time of year for a flea market, at Randolph Street Market you can do all your shopping indoors. More than 100 vendors are present, and you can expect to pick up gourmet foods, items from around the world, artwork, antiques and vintage pieces. Don’t fret if you can’t get to Chicago right away. Randolph Street Market has monthly events through December.
3rd Sunday Market, Bloomington
From May until October, the Interstate Center in Bloomington is home to the 3rd Sunday Market, named such because the flea market opens every third Sunday of the month. This event, which began in 1988, has vendors from nearly 20 states. You can expect to pick up antique clothes, sports memorabilia, folk art, Americana items and old furniture. There are also sections to shop for gardening tools and décor, crafts and cool collectibles.
Northern Illinois Antiques Dealers Association, Loves Park
In 2016, the Northern Illinois Antiques Dealers Association will celebrate 56 years of its antiques show, which takes place in late February every year. Dealers from across the Midwest will be there so you can browse wares from multiple states in one convenient location. Various antiques, from furniture to art to statues and more, will be available.
Sunday at Sandwich Antiques Show, Sandwich
The Sunday at Sandwich Antiques Show is open on Sundays from May until October regardless of weather. Parking is free; some vendors cook up fresh food; and you can find repurposed garden tools, collectibles, antiques and more. If you’re on a road trip, there’s plenty of hotel and lodging options nearby.
Swap-O-Rama, Statewide
With three locations in Illinois, the Swap-O-Rama is quite the place to shop. Depending on the location you visit, the hours differ. In Melrose Park, you can shop on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. In Alsip, you can shop on Wednesdays and weekends. In Chicago, the Swap-O-Rama is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends from April through the end of November.
Wisconsin
Originals Mall of Antiques, Oshkosh
With 18,000 square feet of space, the Originals Mall of Antiques is one of the biggest antiques markets in the area. The items sold here are somewhat unconventional, as you can buy silver, gold and guns. You can still find restored furniture, vintage antiques and other collectibles. Although the Originals Mall is indoors, it’s only open from May until October.
Crazy Frank’s, Readstown
Another flea market known for its size and selection, Crazy Frank’s has three locations you can visit on Wednesdays through Sundays. Some sales items available include vintage toys, board games, storage sheds, military surplus items, housewares, windows, doors, cast iron goods and camping gear. You can look into these and other items on Crazy Frank’s website before shopping.
Elkhorn Antique Flea Market, Elkhorn
N.L. Promotions, LLC runs the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market and the West Bend Antiques Show. The market has been a Walworth County Fairgrounds mainstay since 1982. Shop at more than 500 booths and tables with vendors selling dolls, linens, old pottery, glassware, restored furniture and more. You should also check out the West Bends Antique Show, which is held in nearby West Bend at the Washington County Fair Park in January.
7 Mile Fair, Caledonia
The 7 Mile Fair refers to itself as the place “where weekends mean bargains!” Established in 1961, this spacious market has indoor and outdoor tables and booths. Every weekend, dig through mountains of electronics, clothes, garden equipment, sports memorabilia, home décor and produce. There are even pony rides and train rides for children.
Rummage-A-Rama!, Franklin
Making a new home at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, Rummage-A-Rama! gives you four chances a year to shop and spend less. With more than 100 vendors onsite, you can expect to find “hobby items, crafts, antiques, and collectibles from local dealers; overstock, closeouts, and flea market finds from local business owners; and personal rummage sales by everyday people.”
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