The Ultimate Brimfield Flea Market Guide

+ some special guests and their tips for thrifting at America's oldest flea market

As the September Brimfield Antique Flea Market kicks off today, I put together the comprehensive guide I tried to find before my first foray to Brimfield. I read every article and Reddit thread I could but still felt like I was going to a new city without a single saved star on a Google map. I'm here to share my personal experiences and subsequent suggestions. I also spoke with seasoned thrifters Emily Stochl and Ali Alquiza Klidonas, who have made the pilgrimage to this renowned flea market for their tips of the trade too! 

If you don’t ever plan on going and just want to see what I and other shoppers have purchased with links to similar items online- scroll to the bottom. The rest of you, I hope I am answering any and all questions you might have and if not, reach out!

If you would be interested in a Circle of Friends road trip to Brimfield in May- comment below!

FIRST THINGS FIRST, WHAT EVEN IS BRIMFIELD?

If you have inquired about a piece of heirloom silver at one of my parties, chances are I responded that I found it at Brimfield- so what is this elusive place? 

Brimfield is a small town in Massachusetts of less than 4,000 people but their infamy comes from the massive outdoor flea market, considered to be the oldest in America that takes place there three times a year.

hilliaryb

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TERMINOLOGY: THE SHOW FIELDS

There is one main road through the town and all along both sides are about 20+ show fields and in each show field are numerous vendors. Most of the show fields are free to enter, however, a few charge $5-10, you will need cash to enter these. 

Some of the ones that charge an entrance fee:

• Dealer’s Choice: Only open on Tuesdays and crowds RUSHED, mostly heading for a few of the vendors that specialize in men’s vintage Americana fashion however you can find an assortment of everything at this show. 

• Black Swan: In May, I found Black Swan to have the most higher-end furniture. One of the popular dealers for this is Mark from Austin (he’s towards the back). Knock on Wood also has a big build out there. In July, Black Swan was one of the smaller fields as most of the bigger vendors skipped the Summer show. 

• May’s: This is one of the more known shows that also crowds rush when their gates open. 

If you have a vendor you are looking for, I suggest confirming what day their show is open and going there first. If you are just there to wander, start on one side of the street and meander through the shows then go back down the other side. 

A schedule from the Brimfield website

WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR SHOULD YOU GO?

Brimfield takes place three times a year in May, July, and September. It’s always 6 days long starting on a Tuesday and finishing on a Sunday.

• May is considered the largest of the three shows, vendors have been collecting all Fall and Winter so they have a lot more merchandise to sell and the most amount of vendors attend in the Spring too. This also meant more crowds and competition for items.

• July was significantly smaller compared to May, however, it is still a HUGE flea market. There was a reduction in vendors which also meant a reduction in crowds. I attended this July with another vintage-obsessed friend and we quite enjoyed the less crowded feeling yet still found enough treasures to fill the Fiat.

• September I will report back but after asking around it sounds like September is the middle balance of May and July. I did hear from a few vendors in July that they think September is actually the hottest month to attend. 

WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK SHOULD YOU GO?

• Tuesday is the opening day you will likely see designers, brand teams, and vintage store owners blended into the crowd there to get the first selects. It’s all relative to what is the best of the best but vendors are going to lead with their top items at the start of the week. 

• In May, we went on a Tuesday and it was packed, in July we went on a Thursday and there was still a lot of great finds! 

• If you wait to go on the weekend, go Saturday over Sunday. While there might be less to choose from, there will be a greater chance for steals and deals as vendors want to sell pieces instead of bringing them back home. By Sunday vendors are starting to pack up and head home.

• Not every field is open every day of the week and some vendors continuously put out new items as pieces sell so there is an argument to go multiple days during the week if you can.

WHO SHOULD YOU GO WITH?

Your friend who also loves the thrill of the hunt or a *very* patient partner who can help carry furniture.

The first time I went with my husband Michael, this is what happened. While he is great at carrying the cart and loading furniture, he also woke me up at 1am to drive there and that was likely the first and last time we went together.

It’s always best to thrift with someone who can give a second opinion on potential purchases.

HOW TO GET THERE:

It is very doable as a day trip if you can get there in under 3 hours, for example driving from NYC. If you are flying or driving longer, you might want to consider staying for more than a day or tagging it onto another East Coast trip.

If driving the address to enter is 35 Palmer Road, Brimfield MA 01010.

From NYC, you can take a train to Springfield and then a 30 min Uber.

WHAT TO PACK:

• Something to carry purchases in, both times I have brought a large tote and a cart. You can also rent the carts there. If you purchase something that does not fit in a cart, you can ask to pick it up at the end of the day when cars are allowed to drive onto the fields.

• A smaller bag to keep close to you with essentials (wallet + phone) - I used this crossbody for both water + essentials and then all purchases were in the cart.

• Water - You will likely be out in the sun on your feet for a whole day it’s just common sense to stay hydrated

• Snacks 

• Sunscreen

• A portable phone charger 

• A tape measure if looking for specific pieces and sizes 

• Cash a good amount of places do take credit cards and apple pay, however ca$h is king here and with it, you have a better chance to bargain.

WHAT TO WEAR:

Depends on what month you go but the key essentials are:

• Shoes you can walk in and you don’t mind getting dirty as you will be walking through dirt and gravel a majority of the time.

• Layers, if you are starting when it opens at 5am as the sun is still rising, I needed a sweater but by the afternoon we were getting thrifters tans.

• Check the weather, some of the days in May this year were rainy, so it was quite muddy

• Outfit suggestions

  • Athletic shorts + a loose white top + sneakers

  • Linen flowy dress + keds

  • Vintage Levis + an oversized button-down

WHAT WILL YOU FIND THERE:

Everything. This is not an exaggeration. Just explore a quick TikTok scroll on weird Brimfield finds.

I mostly go to find home pieces, I’ve found antique silver for hosting, glassware, and deals on furniture and home decor.

I start with a list of what I am looking for but I also want to find the unexpected like the vintage champagne bucket was not on my need list but is now considered a house essential.

IS THERE VINTAGE FASHION?

There is a lot of clothing, I would generalize it as a lot of Americana and true period vintage fashion. If you are looking for easy breezy vintage French cotton nightgowns- you will find that here however, while I have seen an occasional Gucci loafer and did get a Barney’s button-down NWT for $5, Brimfield is not where I am sourcing vintage designer fashion. 

Emily Stochl and I both noticed a huge amount of vintage ll bean boat & totes in May.

WHAT ARE THE PRICES LIKE?

• It can depend! Personally, my purchases have ranged from $2 to $450

• Some vendor's stalls will feel more like a flea market with items scattered around and you might be able to find a good deal in the lot. Other vendors’ sections are more curated and have rare vintage or antique pieces therefore asking for more.

• Remember when it comes to vintage and antiques, everything is worth what someone is willing to pay! 

• Having talked to vendors and people who have been going for many years, some felt prices have increased. I find the prices still lower than vintage stores in New York or often what I can find online so I think it is worth it for the selection and prices.

Here are some of my top purchases + prices:

Dresser $40, this was a great deal but does need some work. Proof of the hunt, I might have missed this if distracted by the mannequin head.

Silver pieces for hosting- all under $20 

Antique clay vessel (was told it was around 400 years old) $450, real antique ones online retail for at least double that. Currently in search for some branches to put in it. Similar one here.

Bamboo woven trunk -$75 - to me this was a steal for the craftsmanship of this piece and similar ones online are 3x

Glassware - ranges depending on rarity and condition. This vintage Italian set I got from My Aunt Millie’s Vintage was $60 for a set of 6 in perfect condition.

Bench - I think was $300 -$350. I plan to reupholster but I love the mixture of wrought iron and wood

White porcelain jug to use as a vase for garden hydrangeas -$50 - we saw a lot of these there, this one was the best price I saw for the quality (no cracks or glazing) 

Champagne bucket- my favorite purchase of all. Tagged for $295 and I got for $250. This piece has already been a staple for parties and I plan on keeping it as an heirloom piece to pass down along with the memories of all the parties thrown. This looks almost identical but is missing the bottle holder pieces. 

Vintage Ribbon- $30 for two large spools. I got the tomato one to use at the Circle of Friends Pasta Party

Tips for shopping for home pieces:

• Have your measurements with you, I keep a notes app of all of the home items I am searching for with the dimensions that would work.

• If you buy bigger, or heavier items, ask the vendor to hold onto them until the end of the day, you will be able to go back around 4pm to pick them up with a car.

• If you are specifically going for furniture, bring a vehicle you could get it home in. We rented a pick-up trunk when we went on the mission to furnish the house.

• If you find something larger than you can get home, there are shipping services but they aren’t cheap.

• Be ok with not finding exactly what you are looking for!

I asked fellow vintage lover, Emily Stochl, host of Pre-Loved Podcast, to share their tips and favorite purchases:

emilymstochl

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What is your top tip for shopping Brimfield?

Brimfield is made up of many different vendor fields, which open various days of the week (some have entry fee, others do not) so there are all sorts of strategies about which fields to visit when. I’d see if you can find a handful of vendors who you know and like (or like their vibe!) via Instagram, and find out what fields they’re dealing in and what fields and what days they’d recommend. It’s literally impossible to see it all, so you have to make choices! And you have to plan to come back another time to see more, and more. 

This trip I did: Hertan’s, Mays, Heart-o-the-Mart, and the Vintage Fashion Big Top (which is right before Mahogany Ridge).

emilymstochl

A post shared by @emilymstochl

Do you have advice for anyone traveling to Brimfield? (not within day driving distance) was it worth the trip? 

Haha, I feel like I need a badge that says ‘I traveled over 1,000 miles to go to Brimfield, and I’d do it again!’ 

I came in to New York for some other work, and then took the train from New York to Brimfield (it gets you to Springfield). From there it’s a 30 minute Uber ride to and from the entrance of the market – I thought it was super smooth sailing, and I would go that way again! I guess the only downside is you can only take what you can carry, but that keeps me mindful in my shopping! 

What is your favorite Brimfeild score?

I got this vintage t-shirt from Farmhouse Archeology, which has a picture of the famous Belgian cyclist, Eddy Merckx on it – my husband collects vintage European cycling stuff, and this was a very special find. We have even seen this orange bike in the photo when we visited Belgian ourselves – it’s on display in one of their train stations. 

I love things that have a sentimental meaning! 

Tips from Ali Alquiza Klidonas, podcast producer, co-founder of Gin for Lunch, and my thrifting partner-in-crime: 

• If it’s not an F yes it’s an F no

• Take loads of pictures even if you are not buying them 

• Take note of what catches your eye and look for patterns in what you are gravitating towards to make sure you are buying something you are going to love beyond this experience

• The day is long and there is so much to see…sometimes the photos help gauge how much you love it/how you feel when you look back at the photos again.

• If you are not going on the first day - scour the IG coverage of it, to get a glimpse of vendors you may want to check out and new ones you may have yet discovered 

• Go in with a fun wishlist of categories you may want to find something in, but know the whole day is going to surprise you 

Ali and I attended in July together and as a collector of vintage swan pieces, she found one right out the gate at our first vendor visit.

Some additional Q&As!

IS THERE FOOD THERE?

• Yes, there are food trucks scattered throughout and a section of fair-style food. The Filipino food stand does have vegetable pancit that Michael gave a stamp of approval. There is also a sit-down Italian Restaurant right on the main strip, we checked and wait-times are long. 

• I suggest bringing snacks to optimize time and avoid waiting in lines and maybe just stop for a clam pizza on the drive back in NY.

IS IT DOG FRIENDLY?

• Yes and no. Some show fields will say no dogs so we didn’t bring the girls. In May we saw a lot of dogs in strollers but July felt too hot to have dogs out and didn’t see as many. 

IF I DRIVE, WHERE CAN I PARK?

• You will start to see pay-to-park lots as soon as you enter the town. I suggest arriving on the early side to find a lot next to a show field past the white chapel church. This way you have a shorter distance to walk back to the car to drop off purchases.

Not able to make it? I made a list of items similar to what I have found there, or reach out and I might be able to source something for you!