New England Travel
The market is open through Sept. 13.
Brimfield Antique Flea Market, America’s largest outdoor antiques flea market, transforms a stretch of road in the small town of Brimfield into a six-day shopping extravaganza three times a year.
Shoppers share their finds at Brimfield Antique Flea Market
The iconic Massachusetts market, which first opened in 1959, is comprised of more than 20 independently owned and operated antique shows across 150 acres. Thousands of vendors display their wares, filling tents with vintage furniture, clothes, jewelry, and more. The market also includes beer gardens, food trucks, live music, and an auction.
The show takes place three times a year, in May, July, and September. The final show kicked off Tuesday and runs through Sept. 13.
“The thing that makes Brimfield special is that it’s more than just a flea market and antique show and it’s more than just buying and selling,” said Klia Ververidis, CEO of Brimfield Antique Shows LLC, on opening day. “There’s a really big community atmosphere.”
Ververidis, who has been posting social media tips on the market’s Facebook page, expects 100,000 visitors to the September market.
“It’s the best show in the world,” said vendor Bill Elkay from Florida, of Bill’s Antiques and Medals, who has been selling at Brimfield since 1972. “I’ve been pretty much all over. This is the best show. We have people from China, Japan, England, everywhere. We have so many customers who come every year and they know I’m here and they continually buy from me.”
Trent Trebilcock, 18, of Mystic, Conn. traveled to Brimfield for opening day. It is his fifth year attending the market, and he was thrilled with a cat pillow he purchased for $20.
‘I love coming here every year because you never know what you’ll find,” Trebilcock said. “Sometimes it’s a treasure, sometimes it’s something cool that will be art in your house. Every little thing in every little booth is interesting.”
Ahead, discover how to make the most of your trip to Brimfield Antique Flea Market this September.
How can I map out my day?
Visitors can pick up a map at the Information Booth on the corner of Route 20 and Mill Lane Road on Hertans Field.
“We have maps, we have brochures, we have time schedules for all the shows,” Ververidis said.
Shoppers can also go online ahead of time at brimfieldantiqueweek.com, where they’ll find the map, along with a list of all the shows and their opening dates and times and admission costs.
Is there an admission fee?
Some shows charge admission fees and some do not, Ververidis said.
“The bigger shows will charge a fee for their opening day,” she said. “You’re getting on the field first, you’re getting first pick of the merchandise, and that’s the reason for that.”
The admission fee is typically $5 to $10.
Where do I park?
There are 22 parking lots available at the market. Parking is cash only and typically costs between $10-20.
“Every field has parking, there’s a big main parking lot,” Ververidis said. “Get there early, otherwise you might find yourself walking a mile to get to the show.”
If you’d rather not park — or drive, for that matter —there is a Brimfield Bus that takes shoppers from Boston to the market, Ververidis said.
Do I need cash?
Some vendors accept cash only, while others take Venmo and credit cards. There are ATMs on site.
“I think its a good idea to have cash on you,” said Ververidis. “It’s mind blowing that people show up to flea markets without cash in their pockets. There are ATMs and a lot of vendors take credit and Venmo and credit cards. But if it’s a very busy day sometimes the devices aren’t working.”
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, organizers say. The day involves a lot of walking, and there is pavement along the road but the fields are filled with grass and dirt.
Some shoppers have the item they are looking for featured on their shirts as a clever way to find coveted items in a vast field of vendors, said Scott Mesnick, owner of Brimfield Meadows, one of the antique shows, along with Ververidis
“I’ve seen T-shirts [that say, for example] ‘I’m looking for antique harmonicas,’” he said.
What should I bring?
Many shoppers bring wagons and carts for their treasures. Others bring sturdy bags for their finds, though vendors often have bags on hand.
What is sold at the market?
Shoppers can find everything from furniture to clothes to jewelry to home decor to art.
“You’re going to see a lot of vintage clothes, you’re going to see a lot of advertising signs, a lot of nostalgia lower-end items,” Ververidis said. “The serious dealers will be there too, such as [those selling the] $5,000 Adrian Pearsall chair.”
What’s a hot item this year?
“Pyrex is really popular right now,” Ververidis said. “Most of them are under $100 but there are super rare ones selling for $2,000. They’re useful and purposeful and people are kind of going back to not using things that are going to be discarded.”
Clothing is popular now too, she said.
“Right now a super hot area of our industry is vintage clothes,” said Ververidis. “When I say vintage clothes I mean stuff from the 90s.”
The vendors are typically on the younger side, she said.
“They’re very very committed to this field and they’re so passionate about it,” Ververidis said. “And there’s a good number of them. What they’ve kind of done, in my opinion, is they’ve sort of breathed new life into the shows.”
Bryce Williams, 22, from Taunton is one of them. He is a recent graduate of Bridgewater State University and owns Bears Vintage, named after his college mascot.
“I specialize in vintage clothing, a lot of just graphic T-shirts from the 90s, Levis, Carthartt, sports stuff, all kinds of stuff,” Williams said. “Mainly stuff from the 90s because it’s better quality, in my opinion.”
Are there services for shoppers with mobility needs?
Shoppers can rent a mobility scooter for the day by calling (413) 275-4460 or emailing [email protected]. The scooters cost $100 and availability is limited, so it’s a good idea to reserve the scooter ahead of time.
Are there bathrooms?
There are portable bathrooms on every field, including handicap accessible bathrooms. The bathrooms are cleaned throughout the day.
Is there food available?
“There’s lots of food trucks,” Ververidis said. “There’s several food courts, each one is different. You can get yourself a crab cake sandwich, a regular hot dog, Jamaican food — whatever you can think of, you’re going to find it down there.”
Pilgrim Sandwich food truck, located on Route 20, is a hot spot, Mesnick said. On Tuesday, more than a dozen hungry shoppers waited in line at lunchtime. They serve a sandwich that’s “like Thanksgiving on a roll,” he said.
There are also wine and beer gardens where visitors over age 21 can purchase alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, sangria, hard tea, seltzer, and wine slushies.
What if the purchase is very large?
For shoppers who buy very large items, there are on-site shipping and courier services at the market, and that information is available at the Information Booth, Ververidis said.
“The shows are all basically connected,” she said. “You can easily go from one show to another show and not realize you did. If you buy something and leave it with a vendor, make sure you ask the vendor where you are, which field is this, what’s your name and phone number.”
Dealers will hold onto large items until the end of the day, after which cars are allowed on the fields for pick-up. If shoppers need to leave the market sooner, there are porters for hire who can bring items to cars, and that information is also at the Information Booth, she said.
Can shoppers negotiate prices?
Some vendors will not come down on their prices, but others will. Several first-time shoppers on Tuesday reported that they were able to negotiate lower prices on their items.
Albina Muratova, 35, from New York City, snagged three items for discounted prices after she negotiated with the vendors. She bought a table, purse, and bowl for $50 each, and they were originally between $75 and $100, she said. It was her first time at the market.
“It’s overwhelming but it’s amazing,” she said about the experience.
What are some tips for first timers?
“Wear comfortable shoes, bring cash, dress in layers, watch the weather. Plan on spending the entire day. Start at one end and just keep going,” Mesnick said.
“Keep yourself hydrated,” Ververidis said. “Know where you parked your car so you can find your car when you go back. The most important thing is, don’t get overwhelmed. If it’s your first time, just go and enjoy the process. Just come on down and have fun.”
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