This past week my fiancé and I put on our game faces and headed to Brimfield, MA. Home to the world's largest antique show and flea market, Brimfield has it all with over 5,000 vendors, live music, amazing food, and all a quaint New England setting.
Brimfield Antique Shows take place three times a year in May, July, and September with each show running about a week. Vendors come from all over the United States to showcase their most unique finds; the amount of antiques is jaw-dropping! This quaint New England town swells from a modest population of 3,300 to over 250,000 people! The flea market consists of 21 individual shows located on a one-mile stretch along highway 20 in Brimfield.
We recommend arming yourself with a good pair of sneakers, lots of cash (preferably a mix of small and large bills for haggling), bags and/or a small cart (if you are planning on purchasing bigger items), an umbrella, and a jacket.
Here is Vintage Chanteuse's list of must do's while at Brimfield:
- Haggle. The vendors are expecting you to give them a lower offer than what the tag indicates. Go for it! Come in low (but not too low), be prepared to walk away, and be willing to take a chance! It's my fiancé's FAVORITE part of antiquing!
- Look at pieces that are way out of your budget, if only for the sake of appreciating them! We found a 1920's trolley bar cart and we fell in love with it. I actually can't stop thinking about how perfect it would look in my living room! Alas, the bar was $650 which is slightly out of our classical musician budget!
- EAT! The food is sooooo yummy! The smells coming from each field are divine! You can find freshly made doughnuts, empanadas, freshly squeezed lemonade (the slightly tart, not too sweet kind!), barbeque ribs, freshly cut french fries, homemade ice cream...EVERYTHING! Don't worry you will end up walking several MILES by the end of the day, so enjoy!
- Chat it up with other antiquers. Don't be afraid to share a table with another group of people. Find out their story, ask for haggling advice, or simply relish in sharing your finds for the day!
- Buy something! Even if you only spend a few dollars on a small trinket, you will always remember Brimfield when you look at it! Below is my favorite find of the day: 1940's Italian espresso cups!
After emptying our pockets and filling our tummies and our bags, we headed home with our treasures and happy hearts. If you find yourself in New England between July 8-13 or September 2-7, make your way to Brimfield, you won't be disappointed! If you don't, find your closest flea market and make a day of it!
The Vintage Chanteuse
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