Great Escape: Flee to the Flea

My grandfather is a yard sale junkie.

I would estimate that, at 90 years old, he has been shopping at yard sales for more than 60 years. When I was growing up, Grandpa was always stopping by with used items that he thought we might need simply because he saw it at a yard sale and thought of us. 

My grandparents moved to a retirement community last year after about 45 years in the same home. When my family was cleaning out their house, they found multiple telephones, radios, cameras, drill bits and almost any hand tool you can imagine. Just in case someone, someday might need them.

Because of my upbringing, I find myself drawn to yard sales. As I’m driving around on the weekends, I’m always on the look out for yard sale signs. I’m “that driver”—the one who likes to drive by as slowly as possible to check out what kinds of items are for sale.

I think that for many people, yard sales are great places to find gently used items at good prices, whether it’s clothing, toys, furniture or housewares. Every once in a while, it’s possible to stumble upon a real gem—a tea cup to replace the missing one from your grandmother’s tea set or a piece of furniture that fits perfectly in that difficult corner in the master bedroom.

Yes, I think we all can appreciate the almighty yard sale—as evidenced by the sales that pop up in the area every weekend from March to October, be they single family or neighborhood events.

Each year, as the emails to the Del Ray listserv advertising the become more frequent, my little, yard sale-loving heart starts to beat a little faster.  The witty emails requesting donations and promoting items that will be for sale always make me note the date of the Big Flea on my calendar.

The MV Big Flea is an annual fundraiser for PTA in Del Ray. The organizers request donations from the community and then sell the items online and on site at the flea market. This year, the Big Flea boasts furniture, baby strollers, kids gear, electronics, household items, collectibles, jewelry and more.

The is Saturday at the . For the really dedicated yard sale stalkers, the Big Flea organizers open the doors early, at 8 a.m., for a $10 admission fee. The rest of the crowd can gain free entry at 9 a.m.  At noon, everything that is left is automatically half-off, and at 2 p.m., it’s free.

The Big Flea is the equivalent of hitting multiple neighborhood yard sales all at once, and the proceeds go to a good cause. I know where I will be this Saturday—maybe not at 8 a.m., but hopefully before the good stuff is gone.

While you’re in the neighborhood, one other event to remember is the located right next door at the . You'll find food vendors and kids entertainment in addition to used books.