An Unlikely Summer Tradition...

Flea Markets. These havens of eclectic wares and foods have, in a way, become a summer tradition for bargain hunters everywhere. Shoppers seem to find items that can only be found at these weekend bazaars. The market I was able to capture in this picture I traveled past on an off day, but still found it very interesting.

Early in the season vendors seem to set up their tents and items for sale as a way to entice passersby to enter. A seasonal world seems to be built overnight filled with embroidered sweatshirts, fudge, scented candles, and more. Each weekend, this world comes alive with shoppers and then every weekday it seems to "go to sleep". The weekdays are the days that interest me because everything seems to be put on hold - the flea market is still there but just a quieter version of itself...

On Sunday night the vendors seem to pack up some of their belongings and go home for the week, leaving behind skeletons of their tents. It's amazing how everything gets so quiet and empty for a few days - it almost seems like the place was deserted! If I didn't know better, I would figure sales had been horrible over the weekend and everyone decided to move-on to a different flea market...but without fail, come Friday afternoon the vendors are back in full force and ready for another marathon weekend.

I can't say I'm a frequent shopper at flea markets. I have probably been to only a handful over the years, but they still seem to intrigue me. Aside from the way things shut down for days at a time and then reopen again, there seems to be a group of people who frequent flea markets on a regular basis. These shoppers are bargain hunters who are happy to spend hours going from tent to tent looking at every item for sale. They remind me of the car loads of people that line suburban housing developments every Saturday morning ready to hit up any garage sale in walking distance. Without fail, flea market and garage sale shoppers are always proud of their $2.00 purchase - a purchase that in a regular store might have cost twice as much!

What are your experiences with flea markets?

Have you ever bought anything that, later, made you say, "what was I thinking?"

Do you or someone you know go on a regular basis to see if the "merchandise" has changed?

Unique...interesting...bargains...fun-filled...however you perceive flea markets they have most certainly become an unlikely summer tradition.

That's the Golden Perspective...what's yours?