Well, it's that exciting time of year when flea markets begin in our area. My favorite local one is The Elephant's Truck in New Milford, Connecticut. The Trunk started in 1976 as a small country flea market. And boy, on a sunny Sunday it can be sheer heaven. Get to bed early the night before and make yourself a good breakfast, you're in for a bit of a workout.
Depending on your energy level, there are three admission times. For the advanced collector or dealer, early buying starts at 5:30 am for $20. (A flashlight is usually needed for this.) Prepaid buying starts at 7 am for $10 and general admissions starts at 8 am for $3.
Because I'm looking for items for the store, I wake up at 3 am, get into my comfiest clothes, and get there at the earliest buying time. Since I've been doing this for years, I know to pack my bag the night before filled with a flashlight, a sandwich, a thermos of tea, and of course, some form of payment. (Be prepared, most sellers only want cash.)
If the weather is right and you're lucky, you can expect fields of about 300 dealers not to mention the ever changing food trucks as well as local florists.
Be prepared to do a lot of walking, so comfy shoes are a must, plus some rain gear in case things change is never a bad idea. There are porters available as well as hand trucks you can rent. I can think of only a few things as thrilling as being the first to spot a rare find in the wild. Yes, I walk to my truck about 10 times to load up all my goodies but it's so worth it. I'm usually on the road at 11am heading back to work tired and happy with a truck full of new vintage finds for the store. My definition of a perfect day.
Finding yourself in our neighborhood? Stop in and you'll find a shop full of the cutest handpicked gifts for spring, think: hostess gift, seasonal reset, and of course a little extra something for yourself.
