The Raleigh Flea Market at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds has been an area tradition since the early 1970s. Located at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh, The Raleigh Flea Market has been founded by the Stewart family at its current location with merely six tables and just a handful of vendors.
By the 1980s they have managed to turn the iconic treasure collection into one of the Triangle’s most popular shopping destinations with nearly 1000 vendors, spanning six buildings and several acres on the fairgrounds campus. Nowadays, this flea market is considered as one of the best flea markets in the US.
With the largest selection of antiques, jewelry and furniture in the whole of North Carolina, the Raleigh Flea Market remains one of the area’s top year-round tourist destinations, drawing 2.4 million visitors annually according to the Triangle Business Journal.
Marshall Stewart III, one of the original creators, has also returned as manager with plans to add fun attractions, delicious food options and even more great vendors, creating the kind of flea market you dream of.
What’s On Offer at the Raleigh Flea Market?
Whether you’re looking for that Mickey Mantle card you traded away as a kid, are hankering for a piece of homemade fudge or just want to get out of the house and rummage through timeless treasures, Raleigh Flea Market is famed for its wide selection of oddities and is certainly the place that has that special something you are looking for.
With its family friendly atmosphere, the flea market showcases more than 600 vendors, offering everything from antiques and collectibles to handicrafts, furniture, homemade goods, clothing, jewelry and wonderfully bizarre bric-a-brac. Depending on the weekend you visit, there can be between 100 and 300 antiques dealers at The Raleigh Flea Market. Dive into the antique section to find anything from iconic 60s serving dishes and vintage jewelry to Victorian dresses and retro furniture.
There are two large buildings of permanent vendors and some outdoor stalls focusing on rare antiques, collectibles and wonderful odds and ends. The outdoor portion contains many regular vendors selling everything from old books and records to unique furniture pieces, old trunks and other oddities that one might discover while cleaning out the attic.
Raleigh Flea Market: Top Tips
- Wear comfortable walking shoes if you want to see everything. You are about to discover over 200,00 square feet of shopping space!
- Have reassembling tools handy in case you are after something big that needs to fit into your car.
- You can check the State Fairgrounds website to see if there are any events or shows going on in the exhibition halls.
- The Golden Rule: “Be nice and bring cash!”. Most things are fairly priced but if you want to find a deal, group things together to get them cheaper.
Read our top flea market shopping tips if you are looking for additional insider’s tips!
Show Times
The Raleigh Flea Market is open each Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, except during the run of the N.C. State Fair in October. There has also a new market been added on Tuesday, outside on the Hillsborough Street parking lot from 9 am – 6 pm, which is much smaller but worth a visit. The market offers free admission and free parking. Dogs are very welcomed visitors – you can even find the Raleigh Flea Market ‘Dog Of the Week’ on their Facebook page!
Where: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA (show on interactive map)
When: Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (year-round except for the month of October)
Web: www.theraleighmarket.com
Read: Full review of North Carolina’s Raleigh Flea Market on Fleamapket
