Spread out over two parking lots on Market Square, vendors display their collections of both used and new clothing, accessories, home goods and entertainment items for a big crowd of shoppers to look at.
Bob Seiler, secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Newington, said between 70 and 75 vendors set up shop each week. These sellers range from the more traditional vendors of novelty items like glassware and video collections to families looking to sell their old stuff. Seiler said that more households are moving their tag sales to the flea market because it brings in more people, and a selling space is affordable at $15 a day. He estimated about 1,000 people come out to shop.
"I think it's great, I love it," said Sam Castro, a vendor from Wethersfield who's been selling collectible glassware at the market for over 10 years.
"It's very conducive to selling," said Patty Allen, who was selling used videos and DVDs with her husband, Jerry Allen, at the market Sunday.
Jerry Allen said he has hundreds of rare and out-of-print movies at home that he sells on eBay through their business name, Video Plus CT. At the flea market on Sunday, the Allens had racks and stacks full of videos and DVDs, and Jerry Allen said that was only about a third of their collection. He said he's been collecting movies for years and was an avid movie-goer when he was younger.
Admission to the flea market is $1. The Kiwanis Club, a community service organization, distributes all proceeds from the admission and selling space rental fees to various charities, including Newington Human Services, the Memorial Day Parade, Boy Scouts, Salvation Army and local scholarships.
Jesse Stadtmueller, of Newington, had been to the flea market before it charged for admission, but said that $1 isn't bad and called the market "diverse."
Jenn Merritt, of Norwalk, was in town visiting Stadtmueller, and Sunday was her first time at the flea market.
"It's a lot," she said. "You'd need to come back three weeks in a row to find everything."
Merritt had bought some makeup from an Avon cosmetics vendor, and also looked at some jewelry and DVDs from other vendors.
"It's a nice way to get cheap things," she said. "I like the environment."
The flea market continues every Sunday in Market Square in Newington from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Nov. 1, weather permitting. It is the Kiwanis Club of Newington's biggest fundraiser, and while it is in its 18th fall season, the flea market has been a tradition for more than 20 years, as the club also holds the market in the spring.
Freesia Singngam can be reached at fsingngam@centralctcommunications.com