It’s Spring, and in Minnesota that only means one thing – flea market season!!! Well, if you ask my husband, he would say “fishing opener”, but that’s another story.
The Minnesota flea market season is fairly short, running from April through October. So as April nears, you can bet we’re gearing up to start our weekly flea market shopping!
Here is a round up of some of my favorite flea markets to shop in Minnesota. Next time you’re in the area, stop by! And if you see a woman jumping up and down excitedly while shopping, yeah – that’s probably me.
Updated 4/3/18
Minnesota’s Antique Spectacular and Flea Market
The Minnesota Antique Spectacular and Flea Market is held twice a year, in April and October – the perfect way to start and end the shopping season. This event is held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. The venue includes antique vendors inside the Grandstand and flea market vendors outside the Grandstand. I particularly enjoy shopping the flea market area. There is a $7 entrance fee ($6 with a coupon), and parking is free. I recommend getting there early, bringing a cart (or two or more – I usually fill up at least four of the wheeled carts I bring), and starting outside with the flea market vendors. I guarantee you will find awesome vintage at this flea market!
Dates: April 21 and 22, 2018, and September 29 and 30, 2018
Times: 8:00am – 5:00pm Saturday, 10:00am – 4:00pm Sunday
Location: 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul
Facebook Page: MNAntiqueSpectacular
Oronoco Gold Rush Days
The Oronoco Gold Rush Days outdoor event happens just once a year, and you absolutely cannot miss it! It is my MOST favorite shopping weekend each year! We literally stumbled upon this event one year, having never heard of it before. We were on our way home from a flea market in Rochester, MN (see link below) and I saw a large sign that said something about an antique and flea market sale in downtown Oronoco. We quickly pulled off the freeway and as soon as we saw the ENTIRE town filled with vendors – thousands of booths – I seriously felt like I hit gold! There are so many vendors that I don’t think you could visit all of them in just one day, although we sure gave it our best shot that first time! This is one event that is literally worth traveling to Minnesota for – it is that amazing! Parking is not free and prices vary depending on whose yard you park in. Be prepared for LOTS of walking and for high temperatures and high humidity (it was 102-degrees and very humid the first time we shopped). Thank goodness we brought a trailer with us – we needed all that space to haul home everything I bought!
Dates: August 17-19, 2018
Times: 7:00am – 6:00pm Friday and Saturday, 7:00am – 2:00pm Sunday
Location: Oronoco MN 55960
Facebook Page: OronocoGoldRush
Here is a video walk through of just a portion of this shopping event:
Wright County Swappers Meet and Flea Market
The Wright County Swappers Meet and Flea Market is held every Saturday April to October. This is a large, outdoor market with 200-300 different vendors on an average day and over 500 vendors on the Holiday weekends. Parking and admission is free. This flea market has a wide variety of items and plenty of vintage and antique treasures. I recommend getting there very early, as most of the vendors start shutting down around 11:30am. The first time we went to this flea market, my family and I had five carts full of vintage, and even had to drive the truck in to pick up the other larger purchases. The other times I’ve gone to this flea market haven’t been as successful, but I do always manage to find cool vintage.
Dates: Saturdays, April 14 through October 27, 2018 with special dates for the holidays
Times: Sunrise – 1:00pm
Location: 13594 100th St NW South Haven, MN 55382
Facebook Page: WrightCountySwappersMeet
Hamel Lions Flea Market
The Hamel Lions Flea Market is held each Sunday, May through September outdoors in the Medina Entertainment Center parking lot. Parking and entrance is free. You’ll find plenty of antiques, collectibles, crafts, plants and many one-of-a-kind treasures at this flea market. I especially like that it is held on Sundays – as very few Minnesota flea markets are open on Sunday. Don’t forget to walk up the hill for even more vendors.
Dates: Sundays, May 6 through Sunday, September 30, 2018
Times: 6:00am – 12:00pm
Location: 500 Hwy 55, Medina, MN 55340
Facebook Page: HamelLions
Elko Trader’s Market
The Elko Trader’s Market is held on Memorial Day weekend, July 4th weekend, and Labor Day weekend. Ticket prices are $6 each and parking is free. There are over 300 vendors at this event. You’ll find lots of antique and vintage treasures here.
Dates: May 26 – 28, 2018
Times: Saturday 8am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 5pm, Monday 9am – 4pm
Location: 10675 260th St E, Elko, MN 55020
Facebook Page: TradersMarketElko
Shady Hollow Flea Market
The Shady Hollow Flea Market has been around for over 40 years. It is a favorite shopping place for vacationers in the Detroit Lakes area. The flea market is located on 3-1/2 acres and has 23 permanent vendors and 100 temporary vendors. Entrance and parking are free. Lots of antique and vintage treasures at this flea market.
Dates: Every Saturday in June, July, and August 2017
Times: 7:00am – 3:00pm
Location: 12673 Co Hwy 17, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Facebook Page: ShadyHollowFleaMarket
Gold Rush Olmsted County Antique Show and Flea Market
The Gold Rush Olmsted County Antique Show and Flea Market is an indoor and outdoor flea market that is held twice a year at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds. Most of the antique vendors are located inside the ten or so various buildings, while the flea market vendors are located outside the buildings. There are over 1,500 vendors at this venue, covering the 52-acre fairgrounds. Admission is free and parking is $5. I recommend shopping the outside vendors first, and plan on making several trips back to your vehicle – because I am sure you will find lots of awesome vintage treasures.
Dates: May 11-13, 2018, and August 17-18, 2018
Times: Saturday 8am – 6pm, Sunday 8am – 4pm
Location: Hwy 63 South/16th Street SE intersection, Rochester, MN 55904
Stillwater Flea Market
The Stillwater Flea Market is held at the Washington County Fairgrounds on the last Saturday and Sunday of the month, May through September. This is an outdoor flea market in the beautiful St. Croix River Valley area. One of the bonuses about shopping at this flea market is that you are close to downtown Stillwater, where there are lots of fun antique stores! Admission and parking is free.
Dates: May 19-20, June 23-24, July 21-22, August 25-26, and September 39-30, 2018
Times: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Location: 12300 40th St. N., Stillwater, MN
Facebook Page: StillwaterFleaMarket
Cambridge Antique Show and Flea Market
The Cambridge Antique Show and Flea Market is held once a year at the Isanti County Fairgrounds. This is an indoor and outdoor event, with antique vendors set up inside the various buildings and flea market vendors set up outside. There are typically around 300 vendors at this event, and always lots of vintage items to shop for. This is another one of my most favorite flea markets, mainly because it’s so close to home so I can attend both days, and also because I always find some really incredible vintage finds for my shop! Admission is $6 ($5 with a coupon) and parking is free. The admission price covers both Saturday and Sunday.
Dates: August 4-5, 2018
Times: Saturday 8:00am – 5:00pm, Sunday 9:00am – 4:00pm
Location: 3101 Hwy 95 NE, Cambridge, MN 55008
Facebook Page: CambridgeAntiqueFair
Pine City Flea Market
The Pine City Flea Market is one I visit at least three times a month. It is held on Wednesday’s each month, April through October at the Pine County Fairgrounds. There are typically around 100 vendors at this small town flea market, with more vendors during holiday weeks. I especially like that this flea market attracts vendors from all over, so every week is something different. The vendors are very nice and are very helpful. When we are in town, we often stop at one of the few remaining A&W Root Beer stands for a frosty mug of root beer – I highly recommend you do the same.
Dates: Wednesdays, April 4th (weather permitting) through October 31, 2018 (weather permitting)
Times: 7:00am – 1:00pm
Location: 707 1st Avenue Northwest, Pine City 55063
Marigold Days Antique and Flea Market
The Marigold Days Flea Market is held in Mantorville at the Riverside Park. This event is held just once a year in southern Minnesota. There are typically around 200 vendors at this flea market, with lots of antiques and vintage items. There is no entrance fee, and parking is free. If you’re looking for something to do after Labor Day, you might want to take a road trip to Mantorville.
Dates: September 8-9, 2018
Times: Saturday 8am – 6pm, Sunday 8am – 5pm
Location: 320 N Main St, Mantorville, MN 55955
Facebook Page: MantorvilleMarigoldDays
100-Mile Garage Sale
Okay, so technically the 100-Mile Garage Sale isn’t a flea market. But because there are so many vendors along the route, it’s almost like shopping a flea market. Yes, this shopping adventure is spread out over 100 miles along the towns of Lake Pepin. The scenery is beautiful, and there are lots of opportunities to find vintage and antique treasures. Make a day of it, plan your route, and I’m sure you’ll find lots of interesting things along the way. You’ll stop at people’s homes for their individual sales, as well as commercial buildings throughout the route. The website allows you to preview the ads so you can make notes of which places you don’t want to miss. Keep in mind that since this is a garage sale format, you’ll also find lots of garages with kids toys, clothes and other garage sale type items. But by previewing the ads, you can also find the homes and buildings that have antiques and vintage items for sale. I’ve only gone on this sale one time, on a very rainy day, but I thought it was fun and I did find some interesting vintage pieces. I have much better luck finding vintage treasures at flea markets, but this 100-mile sale is an adventure worth taking – bring your family for a day of fun. If you are looking for vintage and antique items, I highly recommend sticking with the older homes and barns versus the new developments along the way.
Dates: May 4- 6, 2018
Times: 8:00am – approximately 4:00pm, times vary at each location
Location: Lake Pepin River Valley area
Facebook Page: 100MileGarageSale
So there you have it – 12 awesome flea markets to shop in Minnesota!
Do you have a favorite Minnesota flea market that you like to shop? Leave a comment below!
Fabulous! Let the shopping begin!
cambridge but I missed it by a week! very upset about that…I thought it was a wk. later..and had looked forward to it. Want the antique market rather than just a flea market…but thanks for your info online. Next yr. God willing! Maybe go to the State Fairgrounds this fall at this point.
Sorry to hear you missed the Cambridge Antique Fair and Flea Market – hopefully you get a chance to go next year (always the first weekend in August).
I’m looking forward to the State Fairgrounds Antique Spectacular and Flea Market in October – that one is always a lot of fun! I hope you get a chance to make that one, too!
Flea JUNKtion has unique vendors..fun time last weekend in JULY along I-90 and JUNKtion 169 in Blue Earth at the Faribault County Fairgrounds. Follow on Facebook @fleaJUNKtion
Thanks for the tip! The Flea JUNKtion looks like fun. I’ll have to check that out.
Picket Fence Gals in Lindstrom Mn. It’s an occasional sale so only once a month but there are amazing vintage finds. The prices are CRAZY low!