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Shoppers can find just about anything at the White Cloud Flea Market in Kansas. The sale is in its 39th year, and bargain hunters can shop today starting at 8 a.m.
Two major flea market sales drew a crowd of thousands to Sparks and White Cloud, Kan., Saturday, as parked cars lined up for miles. While this may seem unusual to some, it’s no surprise to flea market veterans.
“We thrive off each other,” said Gary Winters, one of the organizers of the Sparks flea market. He estimates that 25,000 to 30,000 people trailed in and out of the nine acres full of vendor booths there. “We run an average of 50,000 (customers) throughout the whole show,” said Tom Winters, Gary Winters’ brother and another organizer.
While five acres was reserved for parking, cars still lined up along the sides of the streets, full of eager shoppers. “We’ve never been disappointed,” Tom Winters said.
Approximately 450 to 500 vendor booths contained primarily antiques, collectibles and food. Several people could be seen holding a giant bag of kettle corn or a funnel cake, or visiting the “Ribs, brisket and beer” vendor booth. “The economy has not hurt us as far as customers go,” Tom Winters said.
Ronald Jodry was impressed with the variety of items offered. “If you can’t find it here, it ain’t there,” he said. Mr. Jodry happened to lose his wallet during the chaotic shopping. Luckily, Pat Murrem, a vendor, found a way to get it back to him. “The honesty of our vendors is exceptional,” Tom Winters said.
Jim Thompson of Kansas City, Mo., said he always enjoys just looking around. “It’s something to do on a nice Saturday afternoon. The prices are good, and you might even find something you need,” he said.
About 11 miles north in White Cloud, Patty Fergerson took over a booth full of miscellaneous antiques for her mother-in-law, who was not feeling well. This was Ms. Fergerson’s first time participating in the flea market, and she was impressed with the crowd. “From what she (her mother-in-law) said, though, it’s not as big as it had been,” Ms. Fergerson said.
Ron Hayes and his wife, Judy, are antiques dealers, so they enjoyed browsing through the variety of items Saturday afternoon. “I have booths in an antique mall in Wichita,” he said.
Customers and vendors were not all from out of town. Lois Elrod has lived in White Cloud all her life.
“I love all kinds of junk,” she said. “I always buy a lot of stuff that I don’t need.”