The Vintage Bazaar

This week I found myself having trouble finding something to write about, until Professor Kramer asked me about garage sales in class. Sure I love thrifting and finding hidden stores full of treasures, but garage sales are more my mom's style. However, the garage sale idea got me thinking about an event I attended in the fall of junior year of high school, that was a mixture of a garage sale, consignment shop, and barbecue party into one, called The Vintage Bazaar. The Vintage Bazaar is a New England event that runs twice a year during the spring and fall, and sells anything every thrifter and antique seeker could ever want, with over 170 venders. It contains independent artisans, resellers, food trucks, live music, and family activities. Did I mention this is all held outside, on a beautiful farm?

I went with my mom, and although we didn't buy much, it was fun regardless. We went on a beautiful September Sunday, and marveled at the salvaged furniture, vintage clothes, and homemade crafts and jewelry. The stands went on for ages, and we could constantly hear the welcoming music and smell the heavenly scent of food trucks. The entire area was decorated as well, with lights, flowers, pumpkins and straw, and garden decor. There was even a giant garden and plant area, where you could get lost in a small magical world that felt like the Secret Garden in real life, or be normal and buy a plant or two. We explored for hours, drank homemade lemonade, bought dainty earrings and stared in awe at the amount of incredible finds people had, ranging from mugs to rugs and vanities and dresses and paintings and photographs.

These kinds of events are everywhere, you just have to look a little for them. My mom had always gone with a couple of her friends, and decided to take me one time. They moved their location from a farm on Massachusetts' north shore to a farm in Southern Maine, but I don't doubt that it is just as incredible. If this is the kind of event that you think you would enjoy, I recommend googling "antique fairs" "flea markets" anything along those lines. However, these things can be hard to find, or only happen a couple times a year for a weekend.

This particular event requires purchasing a ticket, either beforehand or at the door. While this is a place that had a multitude of things being sold, some old and reused, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be super cheap. This was the kind of place that was just as much about the experience as it was about the commodities being sold. Just looking at the variety and uniqueness of everything with my mom was fun and inspiring. It was something we had never done before, and I definitely plan on going back some time. Although I know none of you are from Massachusetts or Maine, more information on this event is below, if you are interested or want to know more about an antique fair in general in case there are similar ones near your homes.





http://www.mybazaarlife.com/#&panel1-1
all images from website