The term “flea market” is lifted and true to its provenance of “marché aux puces.” According to Mental Floss, the phrase was first uttered in France during the 1880s, when shoppers coined it to describe items on sale, such as used furniture, that looked as if they had become sanctuaries for said insects. Despite themselves, shoppers still wanted that dang chair or that plumed hat nearby.
“Flea market” made its Oxford dictionary debut in 1922, and since then certain secondhand experiences have become endearingly shabby chic. Meanwhile, independent artists everywhere have elevated the concept into experimental zones where fashion, technology, and food can merge, giving shoppers much to glean and support.
In recent years, flea organizers in these parts have exhibited a drive to give back to their local communities. Boston has a great flea market set and, next to the summertime, December is when it especially thrives in the name of holiday shopping and treat yo’ self fever. Following are a handful of markets you should check out before ringing in 2018. And remember: While a lot of vendors accept plastic nowadays, cash is highly recommended.
ALLSTON-BRIGHTON WINTER MARKET
- w/ Harvard Ceramics Holiday Show and Sale
- December 7-10
- 224 Western Ave., Allston
- Entry Fee: Free
This year’s opening of the Allston-Brighton Winter Market will be an inaugural occasion. A four-day event in connection with Allston Open Studios and the Harvard Ceramics Holiday Show and Sale, and programmed by the Harvard Ed Portal, the spread will feature more than 20 vendors, as well as live music on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Sunday, the glorious Lord Hobo Brewery will provide a beer garden, while vendors on deck will offer the proverbial array of jewelry, skincare (such as plant-powered Brown & Coconut), accessories, silkscreened bags, apparel, prints, and photography. The Bon Me food truck will be on hand too. There are also planned interactive “pop-ups” thanks to Allston Open Studios, plus special exhibitions and installations. Overall, expect a smorgasbord of information and unique goodie collecting.
SOUTH END VINTAGE MARKET
- Sundays, year-round
- 450 Harrison Ave., Boston
- Entry Fee: Free
The South End Vintage Market is an odyssey that hoarders and seekers will appreciate most. Voyeurs will love seeing an old teacup set from the ’60s. Aficionados will want to know if the vendor also has the matching flatware. Other finds will include lived-in leather jackets, the possible spotting of a rare top from the fashion houses of Chanel or Moschino (it happened to me once!), affordable vinyl, lots of home decor, and artwork.
Located in the South End arts district, the Vintage Market is a part of the larger SoWa Open Market that proffers more current takes on items and a credible food display. If you missed its Winter Festival last weekend, be sure to check out the Vintage Market every other Sunday for plenty of idiosyncratic blasts from the past.
BOSTON HASSLE BLACK MARKET
- Hosted by Boston Hassle & Ignore Rock’n’Roll Heroes
- December 10
- Massasoit Elks Lodge, Cambridge
- Entry Fee: $1
Its slogan: “Together We Can Keep Things Strange in Boston and Beyond.” But Boston Hassle’s spearheading of festivals and exploration of underground culture emanate an increasingly entrepreneurial spirit (all while staying true to the DIY miscellanea free-for-all ethos Hassle initially stepped on the scene with). One impressive project is its seasonal Black Market; for six hours and a dollar, you can get close to everything from vintage copies of Playboy, to a massive collection of mainstream and horror B-movies on VHS, to homemade bath and body products with a feminist kick. The list goes on: vinyl; girl-power patches; jackets and cowboy boots; Caribbean food; quirky artwork and macrame; that tarot card reading you know you might really want to indulge in; and books, from various vendors. Held at the Elks Lodge in Central Square, the Black Market transforms into a cozy cottage, a semisubterranean grunge plaza wonderland. It’s not particularly holiday-themed, but still come see what the grassroots fuss is all about.
ROCKIN HOLIDAY FLEA MARKET & BLOODY MARY BASH
- Sunday, December 10
- ONCE Ballroom, Somerville
- Entry Fee: Free
“Be warned: This ain’t your Nana’s flea market.” So claims the Rockin’ Holiday Flea Market on its vainglorious poster, which packs an R. Crumb-style illustration of Saint Nick having had one too many spiked eggnogs. Scheduled to be held at ONCE, kids are welcome to tag along for face painting and the Panda Claus photo booth, while the Rockin’ Holiday experience promises more than 40 vendors selling “vintage, vinyl, knick knacks, hand-crafted items, plants” and more. It’s not all for the kiddies, though, as there will also be a fully operating bar. With DJ Mike the Considerate providing a soundtrack, it’s basically a day party. (Organizers ask that people bring small toiletries that they will donate to the Boston women’s shelter Rosie’s Place.)
THE SOMERVILLE FLEA
- December 10-17
- Arts at the Armory, Somerville
- Entry Fee: Free
The four R’s rule the roost at the Somerville Flea: “Reclaim, Repurpose, Rediscover, and Reconnect.” This embodies most markets that intend on celebrating the mantra of what’s old is new again, and this flea is particularly fond of the past. Classic dinnerware, kitschy silk scarfs, kitchen tins, vintage makeup tools and cases, and lots of vinyl and posters. Last year, a vendor had a table showcasing a handful of Charlie Brown and Peanuts memorabilia. Another was selling original artwork that included a collage of iconic female super heroines. One find of mine: a mint copy of Prince’s 1978 debut album, For You, for a mere $3 (and this was after the Purple One’s untimely passing). Overall, it’s a hidden gem, not unlike its sister fair that pops up in Davis Square in the summer and spring months.
BLACK MARKET
- December 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 (Saturdays and Sundays)
- 2136 Washington St., Roxbury
- Entry Fee: Free
Founded by wife and husband, Kai and Chris, the Black Market is similar to some other markets offering a cornucopia of items with a “shop small” state of mind. But this spot also has the massively heartfelt goal of reinvigorating community in Roxbury. Beneath the reputation as a historically rough area, for decades Dudley Square and the area around it have been something of haven for artistic expression, streets where Boston’s black residents owned legendary storefronts like the now-defunct beauty supply shop Lookin’ Good.
Impassioned about bridging the gap between the destitute and the wealthy in Boston, Kai opened Black Market in June. Part of its mission is to educate shoppers and vendors alike, in the process showing that business acumen and the ability to create beautiful artwork and goods aren’t mutually exclusive. The space is wonderfully diverse, with a heavy emphasis on ethnic artists and women creators, and that includes products that speak to cultures ranging from Ugandan to Russian. In its words: “hand-made, small-batch, upcycled, locally-crafted.”
SOUTH BOSTON HOLIDAY MARKET
- December 9
- Innovation and Design Building, Boston
- Entry Fee: Free
This year is the third annual South Boston Holiday Market, a display of more than a hundred regional vendors. Many are the usual market suspects; nonetheless, expect some serious handmade goodies from passionate local artisans. Curated by the New England Open Markets, there will also be four “container restaurants.” What’s that?! They’re like food trucks, but without the wheels. As a bonus, while perusing, you will also be able to drop by and check out the Design Center’s fabulous fabric and furniture showrooms. Get your Snapchat filters ready.
ICA WINTER HARBOR MARKET
- Saturday, December 9
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
- Entry Fee: Free
The ICA’s Harbor Market project is still fairly new, having only launched this past September. Still, it’s true to promised form in bringing local treats, ephemera, and activities in a flea setting.
Otherwise, the ICA is known for its willingness to present the oeuvre of artists such as Nick Cave, Diane Simpson, Meleko Mokgosi, and Geoffrey Farmer, so expect nothing but fun oddities as well as everyday items. Among the vendors will be Pan + Scan Illustration, Sculpture to Wear, Grace Makes Things, and BURROW Handmade Goods. For bath, body, and beauty lovers, LipSense and Femmeviolet (soy candles and body oils) will be there. Stina & Mae will have a booth for all the mamas in our lives who deserve cute and classy accessories, while foodwise, there’s Union Square Donuts, Bon Me, and Aeronaut Brewing or a hot cocoa bar to wash it all down.
Finally, there’s Yuletide caroling from the Boston City Singers Children’s Chorus, and Santa will be hanging around from 11 to 3 pm.
Shardae is a writer covering music, film, and arts in Greater Boston.