The best flea markets in Southern California.

With so many things to do in Southern California, most visitors never get around to exploring Southern California’s flea markets.  Which is too bad, because they’re a fun place to spend a morning, or a day.  And you just may find something really cool to take home with you, like a vintage outfit, an old record album, a movie poster, or a table lamp.  If you’re lucky, you might see a celebrity too. 

There’s a flea market in Southern California every weekend, and since many have food trucks too, you can make a whole day of it, if you’re so inclined.  Just remember that the sun is intense here, so wear sunscreen or a hat and bring some cash.  Though many dealers accept credit cards, not all do. 

The third Sunday of each month, the Long Beach Outdoor Antique Market takes place at Veterans Stadium. In business since 1982, it has as many as 800 dealers covering 20 acres. That makes it one of the west coast’s biggest antique markets. It’s a great market if you’re looking for old furniture or other items for the home, vintage clothing, or decorator items like lamps or rugs.

The Rose Bowl Flea Market in the Pasadena football stadium takes place on the 2nd Sunday of each month. This is the most popular Los Angeles area flea market, with up to 20,000 people attending. You can spend a whole day checking out the 2,500 dealers for treasures. Several food vendors are available if you get thirsty or hungry. You can find almost anything here -- from the kitschy to the superb. And prices run the gamut. Celebrities often stop by, so keep an eye out for them.

The price you pay to enter depends on when you arrive. You can come as early as 5AM, although not all the vendors set up that early. The price drops every hour or so until the box office closes at 3PM. Admission ranges from $20 to $8.

A lot of the vendors here specialize in certain items or categories. And collectors of almost anything will probably be tempted by something. There are old toys, action figures, posters, lunch boxes, vintage handbags, jewelry, musical instruments, paintings, and more.

Prices aren’t the lowest, and you can do a little bargaining. But the vendors here usually know the fair market price of what they’re selling, so don’t expect to make a steal.

One of the newest, and trendiest, flea markets in Southern California is the Melrose Trading Post. It takes place in the Fairfax High School parking lot every Sunday. On nice days, three or four thousand people show up to check out the 200+ booths looking for vintage clothes, hip things for the home, and retro items. There’s usually some live music and a couple of food vendors. This market is a favorite with young celebrities.

On the first and fourth Sundays of the month, the Santa Monica Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market is held on the south side of the Santa Monica Airport. With around 175 vendors and admission from 6AM, the 4th Sunday market is the most popular. The quality of objects here is high. Many movie stylists and set decorators shop here for unusual and interesting pieces.

If you’re looking for vintage clothes, quality antiques, paintings, furniture, rugs, textiles, or jewelry, Santa Monica is a good choice. It’s also close to the beach, so you can head there when you’re through.

Bargain hunters swear by the Pasadena City College Flea market, which is held on the first Sunday of the month.  This is the only Southern California market with free admission, and on good days, there are 500 vendors.  It’s not the greatest quality, but the vibe here is low key and most people find it an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.