HUGE ANTIQUE SHOW / FLEA MARKET EXTRAVAGANZA!
Can you please say out loud to yourself in that sing-songy way that is so popular now, “Awwwwwesoome!”
The Brimfield Antique Show (aka by yours truly, The World’s Largest Antique Flea Market) is beyond anything you may have ever seen before in your life, uh…regarding antique shows or flea markets, that is!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
One hundred acres of treasures, junk, ethnic oddities, old stuff, clean tchotchkes, dirty trinkets, large knickknacks, tiny collectibles, colorful baubles, a boatload of kitsch, and an endless pit of great ideas to do with them all. There is stuff there you never heard of before and never knew you needed so badly!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a show alright! Hitting all corners of the world from Japanese Floating balls for fishing nets, to antique Tibetan beads, to French Furniture, to egg baskets from some farm just down the road! It is not to be missed. This, people, is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World! Like the Grand Canyon, you must see it at least once in your life.
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
We spent 7 hours there and did not even see half of the show…which may have saved out wallets a big dent. Fortunately, we did not do much damage. Oh, let me re-phrase that, I did not do much damage. Jim did not buy anything. All day long he was looking for that perfect painting, and he did not find one he couldn’t live without. He apparently has a different “can not live without” level than I! But his interests do lean toward more pricier pieces. Me? I find happiness in a $10.00 metal rooster!
For more info and guidelines for your own trip to this only 3 times a year show…please continue to read on!
DAWN’S SUGGESTED WORLD’S LARGEST ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW RULES TO LIVE BY:
1) First and foremost, get there early. I am talking daybreak people, yes, daybreak! Our 8am arrival was not nearly early enough. You do not want to miss out on any of these:
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
2) Wear a hat and lots of sunblock…my current sunburn begs you to do so!
3) Wear very comfy shoes and clothes…if that does not work bring along some prescription strength pain killers to keep your body moving!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
4) If you really plan to buy, bring a wheeled basket thingy, a wagon, a cart or a forklift…whatever is your style is, it is surely widely accepted.
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
5) Bring Water…so you do not have to leave the particular row and tent you are in to go in search for it!
6) Feed yourself…Antiquing is a rigorous sport people. A little known fact by newbies! Fortunately there are plenty of food carts, stands, and buildings to find nourishment to re-energize yourself.
7) Decide on items you really want to look for and scan each tent from the outside…if they do not have what you may be interested in…move on. Other wise you will end up like Jim and I and only see half the show. Browsing is for non-collectors and newbies people!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
8) Try to negotiate…dealers price things higher most of the time anyway. The best way to do so is ask, “What is the best price you can do on this?” I also went up with a couple of things and asked for a price just a couple to few dollars lower for everything…usually it worked. But unfortunately there are some uppity non-bargainers vendors . Hello, you store right now is on a grass field either in or not in a tent…bargain you uptight antiquey fool you!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
9) If you see something you really like and the price is just a bit high…buy it and right away. Or take the booth name and number, or even a cell phone number if you are really really considering it as by the time you realize you can not live without it….it may be gone and you do not to hike 40 acres back and you HAVE to live without it. Note: This means a notepad and pen nearby at all times! That old water bucket for $20.00 called my name through the whole show…but I decided I can live without it!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
10) It probably is a good idea to have a limit on what you would spend. And maybe even more important, have a limit on how much you would spend on each item if you have particular things in mind. I collect decorative balls. I found this one porcelain one I loved…but it was $285!! Who knew they were used in a parlor game in the Victorian times. My limit on a decorative ball is 6.00….so no antique carpet balls for me!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
11) Bring a camera. Two reasons: 1) There are so many awesome photo opps, like the tent with dolls made out of old refrigerators and tin cans. And 2) You found something you like, and you want to remind yourself what it looked like exactly so you try to find it cheaper on Ebay or at yard sales this summer.
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
12) Make sure you cell phone has full power, so you can find your buddies when you or they wander off. And speaking of that…put the phone in a place you WILL hear it!
And so you can call your friend/spouse/antiquing buddy that just wandered off to tell them, they must come back NOW because they just HAVE to see this:
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
Oh..and…
13) Bring another suitcase if you traveling from afar!
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| From Our Day at the Unbelievable Antique Extravangza! |
We are available for guided tours for the July and September Shows…with special rates for those staying at Gnomad Lodge for the event. Payment can be made in Dawn’s new collection obsession, antique gaming balls!
.WE.ARE.GNOMADS. 
I must go to this! Soooooooooo awesome!!
Come for the Sept one with Angy Patty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wooo hooo!
I wanna go too!! We have the Alameda flea market that I haven’t been to in years but this one looks even better. I’ll start saving now.
Ha…the Alameda has nothing on this place! Save Save Save…and come for a visit…we got plenty of room for the whole family…for the Sept show! ;O)
I loved this subject… I’m in love with stoop sales (Park Slope), garage sales (Bay Ridge), tag sales… You name it. Where was this one? It’s not common here in NYC…
Get Patty and come on up for the Sept 6-11 show!!!! ;o) We love tag sales up here…best prices ever (better than the show)!
Totally awesome Dawn! I want to go next time!
It is in July…I am in!