Most people think Sundays are for sleeping and reading the papers, but a certain breed rises at dawn and drives tens if not hundreds of miles to go treasure hunting, looking for advertising memorabilia, leather-bound first editions, country pine armoires, chrome-trimmed dinette sets, Rumrill vases. That’s the joy of flea market shopping, where prices are almost always negotiable and finding what you want takes some patience, skill, and serendipity. At one end of the spectrum are upscale marts with troves of mint-condition McCoy pottery and mission oak; at the other are swap meets where you’re more likely to find tube socks and miracle arthritis cures. Yet each type of market has its devotees, and both can be addictive.
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Flea markets outside of Bloomington, Grayslake, and Wheaton and one in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, though not as well-known, are all recommended by Popma and other dealers for their selection and prices. Run by Don and Carol Raycraft, former editors for Country Living magazine, the Third Sunday Market in Bloomington limits dealers to those specializing in antiques, collectibles, handmade crafts, contemporary folk art, and garden items. The flea markets in Grayslake and Wheaton, both run by Zurko Productions, reserve indoor spaces for dealers in antiques and collectibles. And the Elkhorn Antique Market has its share of professional dealers, along with “grandpa and grandma cleaning out the attic,” says proprietor Nona Yaeggi.
Some flea markets are worth a trip for their small-town locations. The Towanda Antique Flea Market, for example, is part of the town’s Fourth of July celebration, which also features a parade, fireworks, and relay races. The Shipshewana market, some five hours from Chicago in Indiana, is situated in Amish and Mennonite country and offers a flea market, a separate antique mall, and multiple auctions, including some of horses and other livestock. Other diversions there include tours of the area, buggy rides, a Mennonite-Amish museum, and stores selling quilts and quilt supplies.
Alsip Tri-State Swap-O-Rama
More than 400 dealers; noted for antique furniture, pottery and glassware, Americana, and midcentury modern. 8 AM to 4 PM Sunday, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, and October 17 (early-bird preview noon to 6 PM Saturday, 6:30 to 8 AM Sunday). $5 (preview $25, $40 for two).
Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake; 715-526-9769; www.zurkoantiquetours.com
Melrose Park Swap-O-Rama Flea Market
