Ah, the joys of a flea market. Dozens of vendors, each selling their own unique wares. You might find a future beloved family heirloom - or your family's own equivalent of the infamous leg lamp. That's part of the fun, but at the massive flea market in What Cheer, you'll find so much more than just antiques and knickknacks. Open three weekends a year, this massive festival is one of the most anticipated events in Iowa each year. The first two are the first weekends in May and August - but the third is on the final weekend of September and the first two days of October this year, and it's just around the corner! So step right up and discover all the surprises this Iowa flea market has for you.
Iowa's biggest flea market is back in 2022, and the town of "What Cheer" definitely lives up to its name for bargain hunters.
The number and offerings of vendors change every time, but the price is always right. You can get access for $5 on Thursday's first-look, $3 on Friday and Saturday - and if you want to pick through what's left, Sunday is free.
For the fall event, you can expect to find a lot of unique seasonal offerings. Calling all Halloween-heads!
Don't worry about the kids being bored at the What Cheer Flea Market - there are always exciting tables full of toys and games.
You're guaranteed to find at least one thing at each event that's just bizarre - and some would say that's the best part of shopping here.
It's not just vendors plying their trade here, it's craftspeople too. Look for the colorful truck and get a unique face-painting for the kids or a henna temporary tattoo for the adults.
You'll want to spend the whole day here, so thankfully there are always a variety of food vendors on hand to provide fuel. Try the chicken croissant!
You'll want to bring back some gifts for friends and family, so keep an eye out for the booths of local wineries offering their latest vintages.
Have you been to the What Cheer Flea Market? Every day there is a little different, so let us know what you thought of this massive Iowa flea market in the comments. If you're planning a visit, check out their website and Facebook page for all the details. Looking for more bargains? Why not take this crawl of Iowa's best thrift stores?
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