Illinois
Sunday at Sandwich Antiques Show Sandwich, Illinois
After watching attendance drop at their city’s flea market, a team of seasoned antiques dealers took over the Sandwich Antiques Show in 2012. Today, their monthly market—known as Sunday at Sandwich—has established the northern Illinois city as a destination for quality antiques. Go for the valuable collectibles, but stay to browse the creatively repurposed goods. sundayatsandwichantiques.com
Photo courtesy of Sunday at Sandwich Antiques Show.
Third Sunday Market Bloomington, Illinois
More than 450 vendors fill the McLean County Fairgrounds with both indoor and outdoor displays of items like antique furniture, vintage clothing and sports memorabilia. thirdsundaymarket.com
Indiana
Shipshewana Flea Market Shipshewana, Indiana
Farmers market meets antique fair at Shipshewana’s semiweekly event, which draws 900 vendors. Look for handcrafted furniture, garden art and antique pottery. When you need a break from haggling, dine on Amish cooking at the Auction Restaurant. tradingplaceamerica.com
Iowa
What Cheer’s Collectors’ Paradise Flea Market What Cheer, Iowa
Shoppers circle the fairgrounds’ gravel track, browsing the exhibits of hundreds of vendors. Stamps, coins, baseball cards and old tools make this show—as the name suggests—a collector’s paradise. After hours of walking, treat yourself to a deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich from the funnel cake stand. What Cheer Flea Market on Facebook
Photo by Danyell Klein.
Kansas
Sparks Flea Market Sparks, Kansas
Sparks (population: 9), near the Missouri-Kansas border, is quiet most days. But twice a year, the town welcomes 500 dealers and thousands of collectors for a flea market where shoppers can find the likes of top-condition advertising signs and salvaged fixtures. sparksantiquesandcollectibles.com
Michigan
Allegan Antiques Market Allegan, Michigan
Find well-curated collections of Depression glass, costume jewelry and home furnishings at the southwestern Michigan market, which hosts more than 400 vendors (half inside and half outside) at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. alleganantiques.com
Minnesota
Junk Bonanza Shakopee, Minnesota
What started as one woman’s garage sale quickly grew into a junk extravaganza. Since 2006, founder Ki Nassauer and her Junk Bonanza team have hand-picked vendors, assuring shoppers quality wares. Not quite sure what to do with your finds? Workshops teach techniques such as creating a centerpiece with vintage flair. junkbonanza.com
Photo courtesy of Junk Bonanza.
Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days Oronoco, Minnesota
In the 1850s a short-lived gold rush brought prospectors to Oronoco; today, visitors come for the flea market with more than 1,000 booths. Volunteers manage the event and donate after-expense proceeds to community groups. goldrushmn.com
Nebraska
JunkStock Waterloo, Nebraska
In 2018 Junkstock will be trying something new with Junkstock: Underneath the Stars, an evening summer market, food fair and music event at Sycamore Farms in June. The "Harvest Edition" of Junkstock happens in late September. junkstock.com
Ohio
Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market Springfield, Ohio
Folk art and period furniture are a few of the treasures at the huge western Ohio market, where more than 2,000 vendors cover the Clark County Fairgrounds. springfieldantiqueshow.com