Featured image credit: R.G. Canning Attractions
The people of the Greater Los Angeles area love their flea markets. From the Melrose Trading Post to the Santa Fe Swap Meet, Angelenos brave heat, crowds, and their bank accounts in search of deals and hidden treasures. But on the second Sunday of every month, the mother of all flea markets open its gates to the clamoring masses. It’s definitely the most popular (and vendor-lucrative) flea market in the U.S. Possibly the world. And chances are good it has exactly what you want… often before you even know you want it. It’s the Rose Bowl Flea Market… and a flea market by any other name wouldn’t turn up deals so sweet.
The Stars Come Down to Earth for the Rose Bowl Flea Market
Located at the sprawling Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, the Rose Bowl Flea Market hosts over 2,500 vendors hocking their wares. The often unique and exotic merchandise even draws the celebrities out, earning it the nickname “the Flea Market of the Stars.”
Shoppers fly into LA from around the world to peruse the vendor stalls of the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Some seek one-of-a-kind vintage clothing. Others come with their carts dragging behind them, searching for authentic antique furniture.
Looking for heirloom-worthy jewelry? Rare records? A vintage Happy Days lunchbox? The Rose Bowl Flea Market is a surprisingly solid bet. Some vendors even sell brand new merchandise for those not into secondhand living.
Some jetsetters arrive to make personal purchases. Others manage their own vintage shops and businesses so instead immerse themselves on a mission to replenish inventory. It’s not unusual for clothing on display at the Rose Bowl Flea Market to end up in the window of a shop in Paris, Tokyo, or Milan.
Navigating the Rose Bowl Flea Market
For visitor convenience, the flea market grounds are color coded by merchandise category. For example, the “orange” section is for antiques, “white” is for vintage clothing, etc. Upon entering the gates, you can go either left or right to round the stadium where you’ll find brand new goods. This is also where the arts and crafts items are located.
If you instead go to the left and downward through a gated area, you’ll find the antique section. Going further left, you’ll find a series of bridges that cross over into the vintage section, home to plenty of retro clothing and collectibles.
Over 50 Years of Deals
The Rose Bowl Flea Market began in 1968 when business partners R.G. Canning and Bill Tunnell decided to make their successful auto shows even more successful. They began to incorporate vendors, starting with about 200 stalls. R.G. Canning Attractions still manages the flea market to this day.
Getting Into the Flea Market
Admission to the flea market begins at 5am or 9am, depending on the type of ticket you purchase. While beating the sun to the flea market may seem excessive, it’s a must for those trying to score the best deals on the hottest items.
Just be warned that not every vendor is an early riser. Some will be set up and ready to go by 5am. Others will still be rushing to unload right up to the 9am general admission opening time.
These days, you can purchase tickets in advance at the R.G. Canning Attractions site. Tickets go on sale one month prior to the next event. VIP tickets (5am admission) run for $20 while the standard admission tickets are priced at $12. However, children ages 12 and under enjoy free admission. And by children, we mean human children. Fur babies, unfortunately, have to sit the flea market out.
Rain or shine, the Rose Bowl Flea Market remains open until 4:30pm. However, just as there are vendors late to rise, there are also vendors quick to leave. Some start packing up at 3pm. So, if you see something you can’t live without, don’t sleep on it.
While you can roll up to the flea market pretty much anytime you’d like, there’s no entry after 3pm. So, late sleepers should aim to get there before that time because tickets are non-refundable.
Tips for First Time Rose Bowl Flea Market Guests
Chances are good that you’ve never been to a flea market of this magnitude. So, you’ll want to prepare accordingly. You’ll find a wealth of parking around the stadium, including the front lawn, but Lot I offers the easiest parking experience.
Show up with a fully charged phone, plenty of water to stay hydrated, and a large shopping bag or cart for your potential purchases. You’ll also want to dress for the occasion, meaning comfy shoes and weather-appropriate attire. This is an outdoor event on asphalt that requires a good deal of walking.
Finally, vendors can be particular about payment methods. Therefore, we recommend bringing cash to skip the lines at the ATMs. But also set up a Venmo account if you don’t already have one. And, honestly, you should probably bring your checkbook too. It sounds absurd, but do you really want to lose out on that antique Midcentury hutch because you didn’t have a check?
The next Rose Bowl Flea Market is Sunday, May 14 with tickets already on sale. What better excuse to visit lovely Pasadena before the weather gets too hot? Happy hunting!
