The Raleigh Flea Market

Guitar Player. Did not want to be identified

Weird and wonderful

photographs by Geoff Wood

When the Raleigh Flea Market got its start in 1971, it boasted six tables and a handful of vendors. These days, the State Fairgrounds’ 20,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor extravaganza, held every weekend (except in October), is ranked by CNN as among the nation’s 10 best, and lures as many as 2.4 million shoppers a year. They come to check out more than 600 vendors who sell a weird and wonderful variety of things from art to auto parts.

Just as interesting as the wares are the people – those doing the selling and those doing the buying. Photographer Geoff Wood spent the day capturing the spirit of the place. “If you’re looking for interesting characters and hidden treasures,” he says, “then the Raleigh Flea Market is where you want to be.”

The Raleigh Flea Market is open at the State Fairgrounds every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except in October; theraleighmarket.com 

 

Jack W. Phillips wheels and deals

Jack W. Phillips wheels and deals

Chase Brock of Brock’s Leather Craft stamps a name into a leather belt

Chase Brock of Brock’s Leather Craft stamps a name into a leather belt

8-year-old Gibson Wood holds a mounted bull horn

8-year-old Gibson Wood holds a mounted bull horn

Tackle box

A collection of fishing lures

WM_RaleighFleaMarket_7534_gw

Collections of colorful glass bottles

Emma Lee Johnson, 5, enjoys a snow cone

Emma Lee Johnson, 5, enjoys a snow cone

A customer steps up for a slice of pizza

A customer steps up for a slice of pizza

Native American turquoise and silver jewelry at Kory Kante’s booth

Native American turquoise and silver jewelry at Kory Kante’s booth

A framed velvet Elvis Pressley and animal skulls

A framed velvet Elvis Presley and animal skulls

Artist Francisco Joseph of Gallery Languedoc

Artist Francisco Joseph of Gallery Languedoc

Hothouse tomatoes

Hothouse tomatoes

Nathan Hodges and Pri Marrow with Marrow’s dog, Nahla

Nathan Hodges and Pri Marrow with Marrow’s dog, Nahla

Kory Kente’s bohemian mobile truck

Kory Kante’s bohemian mobile truck

Wrestling action figures

Wrestling action figures