Kansas City, Missouri
November- December 2014The Pickens Flea Market
One of the things that I find so amazing and endearing about Pickens is the weekly flea market, which happens every Wednesday. Why is it on Wednesday mornings? Because it always has been. How do hoards of people manage to come every week despite school and work requirements? Who knows! Apparently they tried to change it to Saturday a while back, but no one came. Because the Pickens Flea Market is on Wednesdays. Every week.
There's an incredible selection of things being sold. They have everything from the standard farmers' market selection of produce, bread, eggs, jams etc. to packaged foods, toiletries, otc medicine, toys, used clothes, shoes, fancy roosters and even puppies. Anyone can rent a vendor space, so a lot of people seem to use the opportunity to have a weekly garage sale of sorts, which means that there are a lot of great things to be found. Tintypes, heirloom furniture, old coins, antique knives and all kinds of unexpected ephemera have all been spotted.
For the most part, you really can do all of your shopping at the flea market. And it's set up that way. I'm amazed at how many people I see there (except yesterday of course, when I took these pictures, because no one told me that on cold days, everyone comes later in the day) and the assortment of goods I see them purchasing. People really seem to establish relationships with the vendors and come back every week, not only to do their shopping, but to hang out, eat tacos (there's a taco stand) and talk to the really nice guy who sells baby lettuce sprigs while his old beagle sits on the flatbed behind him and watches.
It's a great experience, and I love going there weekly to gather my groceries, do a bit of people watching and soak in the atmosphere.
-Skye Livingston
www.skyelivingston.com
www.followthenomadhome.com
There's an incredible selection of things being sold. They have everything from the standard farmers' market selection of produce, bread, eggs, jams etc. to packaged foods, toiletries, otc medicine, toys, used clothes, shoes, fancy roosters and even puppies. Anyone can rent a vendor space, so a lot of people seem to use the opportunity to have a weekly garage sale of sorts, which means that there are a lot of great things to be found. Tintypes, heirloom furniture, old coins, antique knives and all kinds of unexpected ephemera have all been spotted.
For the most part, you really can do all of your shopping at the flea market. And it's set up that way. I'm amazed at how many people I see there (except yesterday of course, when I took these pictures, because no one told me that on cold days, everyone comes later in the day) and the assortment of goods I see them purchasing. People really seem to establish relationships with the vendors and come back every week, not only to do their shopping, but to hang out, eat tacos (there's a taco stand) and talk to the really nice guy who sells baby lettuce sprigs while his old beagle sits on the flatbed behind him and watches.
It's a great experience, and I love going there weekly to gather my groceries, do a bit of people watching and soak in the atmosphere.
-Skye Livingston
www.skyelivingston.com
www.followthenomadhome.com
