New England is old. Not comparable to Africa, Asia, or Europe, of course. But old by American standards.
Our little states even have their own accents.
And like any place with a long history of settled people, New Englanders have accumulated a lot of stuff over the centuries.
And in the best flea markets in Connecticut the business of buying and selling antique, vintage, and new items is still strong.
My first experience with flea markets wasn’t in New England, but in sub-Saharan Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer.
The markets of Malawi, especially Lilongwe, the capital city, were impressive.
Full of every good imaginable, from produce to clothes to furniture, even coffins.
Being in one of these markets was an assault on all the senses.
Walking along the dry, red, dusty paths between vendors; your nose hit with the acrid smell of smoke from a food vendor. Smiling vendors loudly hawking their wares. And every color imaginable in the fruit or the cheap goods made in a factory in China.
Connecticut flea markets are different from African markets in many ways. But not all.
How so?
Find out, and discover the best flea markets near you wherever you are in Connecticut.
The 5 best flea markets in CT
Of the many Connecticut flea markets on this list, there are 5 that everyone knows about, or seem to always be talking about.
Scattered throughout the state, they can be a fun way to pass a few hours. And that’s whether you’re looking for a particular treasure, or are just open to stumbling upon a great bargain.
Map design by Stanton House Inn with resources from Flaticon
Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market
Anyone who watched Flea Market Flip knows about Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market.
It’s not only the largest flea market in Connecticut, but also the largest weekly flea market in New England.
This entirely outdoor flea market opens for the season in April in CT and continues through mid-December.
Weather permitting, of course. The flea market does close when it’s raining.
The Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market has operated since 1976. It attracts vendors from all over the East Coast.
You’re sure to feel overwhelmed during your first trip. There’s a lot to see, regular appearances include:
- Antiques
- Books
- Electronic equipment
- Clothing
- Plants
- Tools
- Toys
- Used furniture
And as many a viewer learned from Flea Market Flip, the vendors are amenable to negotiate their prices to make your flea market find that much more affordable.
Do large crowds make you nervous (and after a pandemic, no judgement), or would you rather find your treasure before anyone else even gets to see it?
Be a super-early buyer, which allows you to enter the market starting at 4:45 am for a $40 fee. Early buyers can arrive at a slightly more reasonable time of 5:45 am until 7 for $20.
After 7 am, visitors get in for $2 until the market closes at 3 pm.
But with food trucks, you could spend ample time here, if you so choose.
Just be sure to bring sunscreen, especially if it’s on your list of Connecticut summer activities.
You’ll find the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market at 490 Danbury Road (also known as Route 7) in New Milford on Sundays.
This flea market is without question one of the top attractions in Danbury, Connecticut; and likely the entire state.
Boulevard Flea Market
This large flea market, held on Saturdays and Sundays at 500 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard offers a touch of the exotic.
And if you’re expecting all flea markets in Connecticut to remind you of the quaint European ones you visited abroad, this one is sure to surprise you.
Tread lightly on the uneven pavement as you wind your way through stalls selling a wide variety of goods.
An ever-changing list of vendors loudly shout their wares to passersby.
The adventurous will find everything from:
- Fresh produce
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Televisions
- Jewelry
- Novelties
While antique shopping is not likely on the docket at this New Haven Flea Market, this is the place to go for deals on everyday items, like:
- Purses
- Socks
- Sneakers
- Oils and perfumes
- Sunglasses
- Hats
- Even underwear
That said, if something appears to be too good of a deal, it likely is. You may stumble upon a counterfeit or two while you’re here.
Food vendors sell fare typical of summer festivals in CT:
- Hamburgers
- Hot dogs
- Ice cream
- Fried food galore
This New Haven flea market most reminds me of markets in Malawi, albeit with the addition of a slight summer carnival atmosphere, thanks to the food.
Woodbury Flea Market
Woodbury, Connecticut, is the antiques capital of Connecticut.
And the Woodbury Flea Market is a great reason to visit town on any given weekend.
Weather permitting, this flea market opens Saturdays and Sundays at 25 Sherman Hill Road.
It’s been a fixture in town since 1967. Don and Diane Heavens started and operated the flea market for 40 years before passing the baton to Gus and Anne Kaloidis in 2008.
Admission and parking are free to this small but fun attraction. And vendors focus on historic and antique items, though they added a July to October farmers market to the roster in 2013.
If you want to keep exploring Woodbury after the flea market closes at 2:30pm, you’ll find dozens of upscale antique shops along the historic Main Street of Woodbury.
Mansfield flea market
If you’re on the eastern side of Connecticut on any given Sunday, head to Mansfield to get your inexpensive shopping fix.
There, one of the last drive-in movie theaters in Connecticut hosts the largest flea market in eastern CT.
Hours of the Mansfield flea market are 8 am to 2 pm at 228 Stafford Road every Sunday, year-round. Vendors display their wares outdoors in clement weather, and indoors in a 15,000-square foot space any other time of the year.
While there is a small $2 fee for outdoor parking, you’re sure to enjoy your time spent here. Plus, the new snack bar will save you from needing to leave between perusing stalls.
Stormville Flea Market
First off, this flea market is not in Connecticut.
But it’s very close!
In fact, you easily could lump together a visit to the Stormville Flea Market, plus Elephant’s Trunk, in one weekend. Maybe visit Stormville on Saturday, and Elephant’s Trunk on Sunday, or do both on Sunday, if you’re feeling ambitious.
The Stormville Airport Antique & Flea Market is another regular fixture on Flea Market Flip. Stormville, New York, is just east of Poughkeepsie and Beacon. So it’s a 32-minute drive from Danbury, or an hour from Greenwich on the Connecticut shoreline.
Be careful when planning a trip to this flea market, however, especially during a pandemic.
The Stormville Flea Market took the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and implemented social distancing and capacity restrictions to keep shoppers safe.
While it was the right thing to do, it resulted in long lines of traffic to get in to shop a limited number of vendors.
While I couldn’t write this guide without mentioning this major flea market, it may be a better one to visit after the pandemic has officially subsided.
More top flea markets in CT
The above five, while the most well-known and most visited flea markets in the state, barely scratch the surface of flea markets in Connecticut.
More scattered throughout the state include:
Mongers Market
You can see the industrial building that is home to Mongers Market from the highway in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
This 75,000 square foot indoor flea market is a fun one to visit, especially on a rainy Sunday, year-round.
While you’ll find some antiques here, the majority of the emporium is heavy on vintage and industrial salvage.
Which is cool in and of itself.
Parking is a bit of a pain, as Mongers Market is popular, but they do have a parking attendant to help guide visitors on busy days.
But definitely plan to visit earlier in the day. The end of their usual hours (10 am to 4 pm) can get busy.
Bethlehem Indoor Flea Market
There’s more to Bethlehem, Connecticut, than its annual holiday celebration.
In fact, the Bethlehem Flea Market is a major draw, year-round.
And even when the weather is unkind; this huge, indoor, and temperature-controlled flea market will keep you occupied.
Shoppers will discover new items each week, with something for everyone. Common items here include:
- Furniture
- Lighting
- Artwork
- Mirrors
Bethlehem’s indoor flea market is open on Fridays from noon to 5 pm, and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You can find it at 37 Thomson Road in Bethlehem, Connecticut.
College Mart Flea Market
Want to add a trip to a flea market to your list of things to do in Mystic, Connecticut?
Then plan to make the drive to Jewett City for the College Mart Flea Market.
Located inside a historic former textile mill building, this flea market has two floors of indoor space, and vendors that sprawl outside in warmer weather.
It’s actually one of the largest indoor/outdoor flea markets of its kind in Connecticut.
That said, indoor items are typically higher priced, with more deals to be found outside. And you may be doing quite a bit of sifting.
The College Mart Flea Market is open on Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm, year-round, at 2 Wedgewood Drive in Jewett City.
Flea Market at the Crossing
Between the cities of Bristol and New Britain, just outside of Hartford, is a small, old-fashioned indoor flea market.
The Flea Market at the Crossing in Plainville, Connecticut, operates weekends from 9 am to 4pm.
Admission is free, with free coffee for early risers. And with two floors covering about 10,000 square feet of space, there’s no telling how long you’ll be here.
One of the more unique points of this flea market is that it’s also the headquarters of H&B Woodworking. They’re renowned for their:
- Custom cabinet making
- Furniture building
- Restoration workshop
The Flea Market at the Crossing is located at 105 East Main Street in Plainville, Connecticut.
Redwood Country Flea Market
Elephant’s Trunk may be able to lay claim to being the largest flea market in New England, but Redwood Country Flea Market claims to be both the oldest and best in New England.
Oldest may be accurate, with over a 40-year history.
Best is, of course, subjective.
Open Friday through Sunday from 6 am to 3 pm year-round in Wallingford, Connecticut, this flea market offers both free admission and free parking.
Collectors of all sorts make the trek here to add to their collections of:
- Antiques
- Tools
- Jewelry
- Coins
- Books
- DVDs
- Games
But other avid shoppers will find plenty more to entertain themselves, from clothes to groceries and baked goods.
Wright’s Barn & Flea Market
You may have shopped at flea markets in open fields, and even historic former mills.
But have you shopped in a dairy barn flea market?
If not (or if you’re a fan of unique shopping destinations) head up Route 4 to Torrington, Connecticut, in Litchfield County.
There, you’ll find a year-round indoor treasure trove housed in a historic dairy barn turned teenage dance club turned flea market in 1980.
The building is deceptively large compared to its exterior, with 10,000 square feet spread across two floors. Multiple dealers fill the space that accommodates about 40 spaces, mostly focused on antiques and collectibles.
Wright’s Barn is a go-to spot to find:
- Books
- China
- Glassware
- Furniture
- Jewelry
- Paper goods
- Victorian-style artwork
- Old time tools
Wright’s Barn is open Saturdays and Sundays (except holidays) from 10 am to 4:30 pm year-round. You’ll find the flea market at 99 Wright Road in Torrington, Connecticut.
Tired of shopping for deals at flea markets?
Neither am I.
So, moving on to Massachusetts, just over the border from Connecticut:
Flea markets in Massachusetts
As is typical, Massachusetts hogs the spotlight in all things New England.
Not jealous, just stating facts.
But in all fairness, one of the most well-known flea markets in the entire country happens three times a year (in a normal year) just over the border from Connecticut.
Two of the top must-experience flea markets for the connoisseur include:
Brimfield Flea Market
For one week each in:
Antique vendors and buyers descend en-masse on the small town of Brimfield, Massachusetts.
This small town east of Springfield plays host to interior designers, antiques aficionados, and aesthetes of all stripes at the largest and oldest outdoor antiques market in the country.
The antiques market, which those in the know simply refer to as “Brimfield”, stretches across over 20 open fields along Route 4.
And each week is in and of itself an event, with a carnival-like atmosphere.
So if you want to go; plan ahead, get there early, dress for the weather and for walking, and be ready for an intense day (or more) of shopping!
Grafton Flea Market
Another one of the oldest flea markets in New England, Grafton Flea Market is to the southeast of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Admission is a dollar, with a feel akin to a giant yard sale.
As is typical of flea markets, you’ll likely find a treasure, or junk, depending on your subjective opinion of each item.
Are flea markets open in CT?
Connecticut flea markets, like many other things, largely shut-down at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today, the ones that survived are all back open for business.
And an added benefit of an open-air market is the relative ease of maintaining social distancing.
Now known as maintaining ample personal space.
Flea markets in CT open today
Poking around a Connecticut flea market is one of the best things to do in CT this weekend. Any of these options would make a fantastic CT day trip from our Greenwich, Connecticut, inn. Peruse this quick list for flea markets open on the major weekend days, rain or shine:
Saturday
Connecticut flea markets open on Saturday include:
- Boulevard Flea Market in New Haven
- Woodbury Flea Market in Woodbury
- Stormville Flea Market in Stormville, NY
- Bethlehem Indoor Flea Market in Bethlehem
- Wright’s Barn & Flea Market in Torrington
- Flea Market at the Crossing in Plainville
- Redwood Country Flea Market in Wallingford
Sunday
The options broaden a bit more on Sundays for flea market shopping:
- Elephant’s Trunk in New Milford
- Boulevard Flea Market in New Haven
- Woodbury Flea Market in Woodbury
- Mansfield Flea Market in Mansfield
- Stormville Flea Market, in Stormville, NY
- Flea Market at the Crossing in Plainville
- Wright’s Barn & Flea Market in Torrington
- Redwood Country Flea Market in Wallingford
That said, it’s always a good idea to check websites ahead to confirm that a Connecticut flea market is open.
Flea markets may close due to bad weather or a pandemic, no matter how disappointed you may be after a long drive.
If absolutely necessary, you can also call.
As a millennial, I’m disinclined to ever do that.
But to each their own.
And I highly recommend you visit your local flea market soon, and come back often.
I kid you not, it took me about two weeks to first write this piece. And in that time, 3 Connecticut flea markets I was planning on adding to this list officially and permanently closed.
And during the 2022 update, 2 more closed:
- Capital City Flea Market, in Hartford, CT
- Maplewood Indoor Flea Market, in New Milford, Connecticut
So get out there and shop local, shop sustainable, shop flea markets!
Keep exploring unique things to do in Connecticut, like flea market shopping
Want to keep exploring Connecticut before you go?
We love showing-off the unique, quirky, or just eccentric parts of Connecticut.
Greenwich Avenue and downtown Greenwich is considered one of the premier shopping destinations in the Northeast. Though good luck finding prices comparable to a flea market.
Don’t forget that Connecticut features some of the best antique shopping in the country. And the most unique antique stores in Connecticut have something for everyone.
And if outdoor activities are really not your thing, explore our list of the best indoor activities in CT, from Greenwich to Hartford. Or explore our romantic guide to Connecticut, including our list of the most romantic restaurants throughout CT.
Check-out more unique things to do in Connecticut, and download a copy of the free Connecticut Travel Guide.
Updated and republished: August 16, 2023
