Rose Bowl Flea Market
Categories: Arts & Crafts, Antiques, Local Flavor, Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
Neighborhood: Pasadena1001 Rose Bowl Dr
Pasadena, CA 91103 (323) 560-7469
- Hours:
Sun 6:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Private Lot
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
9 reviews
Neighborhood: Griffith Park/Los Feliz
"oh... my... lanta. i've been here on many occasions, however... i never had the time to really browse. i usually sat on the comfy lounge…" read more »
31 Reviews for Rose Bowl Flea Market
I'm from the east coast, so I'm used to "flea markets" and no swapmeets. This is one of the more massive flea markets that I've been to, and there have been a couple of time that I wasn't able to finish it, that's if you actually take time to discover each of the plots. Great for quirky finds, you can call them "vintage" if you want to. But there's also nothing like stopping by the guy that sells nuts, or the guy that sells olives and pickles and picking up a koolickle (a kool-aid pickle). I still remember in the early 90's when this place wasn't as popular, and admission was lower, but there's still no place like it.
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I LOVE flea markets, and don't get me wrong, this is an epic flea market.
I kind of hate paying 8 bucks to get in, but once I'm inside I usually think it's worth the fun day of scavenging and enjoying being outside.
Some of the stuff they have here is truly amazing- and they have a huge selection. Because most of the things there are genuine antiques, alot of it tends to be a bit pricey.
The clothing section is a goldmine, and they will usually let you bargain...sometimes...
for example:
I wanted to buy a vintage t-shirt with a bunch of words and a swordfish on it. I asked the little old lady how much it was.
"Ten dollars." says the little old lady
"Ten dollars? Dude, this should be five dollars...it's just a t-shirt"
"But, see, this is a VERY popular fish. TEN dollars."
"FINE!"
And so i left with a $10 dollar tshirt, but have no regrets now that i know how popular sword fishes are.
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I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if i could... i enjoyed myself here!
The size of this show is huge! It might actually be the biggest antique show I've ever been too... however, i think in this case it may be a bad thing. It isn't always the most exciting thing to do, you know, breezing through crowds of people looking at overpriced chairs and tinker toys from the 70's in the 100 degree Pasadena sun.
Don't get me wrong, it is worth the $8 price to get in... And those lemonade slushis they sell there are awesome... and the live music is cool also...
I dunno, though. it's just too much. The prices are too high for some items and it's just to massive to get through the whole thing.
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Five stars for its sheer size, five for the selection, four for finding what you're looking for, two for the price. The final rating, therefore, is about four stars.
Seriously, though, this place ought to be called "Bargains for Millionaires."
A 19th century Renaissance Revival throne chair, with its intricate lion-head carvings all chewed up and needing reupholstery--for $500? Yeah, the thing was cool and all, but if you're not adept at woodworking or upholstery, you'll have to pay someone about $2K to fix the darn thing just to make it presentable. In the end, you'll probably end up spending the same price and a hell of a lot less time by going to one of the better Pasadena shops.
Your typical Rose Bowl vendor tends to be a little delusional about the value of the wares he's peddling, but there ARE finds to be had. I picked up a small collection of mid-18th century books (including a 1764 novel by one of the first female English authors) for $10. They were in a box of other worthless books and the seller obviously couldn't spot 18th century bookbinding, paper, or print.
If you're looking for antiques, this basically amounts to a ginormous antiques shop that assembles the second Sunday of each month. On the whole, true bargains are few and far between. They exist, but don't think that just because you've gone to the flea market, everything's a steal.
On the vintage front--not something I'm terribly into but I've looked through and bought from, well, I'd imagine they're crazy overpriced too. Granted, you'll run into a lot more quirky stuff than on the antiques side of the market, and I suppose this section appeals to shoppers' nostalgia and the "I need to have this because it'll make me look cool" sentiment. Just be prepared to compete with a lot of Japanese tourists who are willing to pay inflated prices, and to whom the vendors have taken a keen interest.
When you first pass through the entrance to the market (the ring of vendors that immediately encircle the Bowl) you'll come across an array of standard flea-market stalls. These are people selling all sorts of gadgets, new items, and crafts. I usually skip this part.
Turn to the left, and again to the left for the real action. You'll pass through a gate and this is where the antiques are. Once you've finished here, cross the little bridge over the wash and you'll enter the vintage section.
Have fun. I go early in the morning because parking's a pain any later. If you don't find anything, at least you got your day's worth of exercise!
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went early to get furniture but there wasn't much and most of it way overpriced. considering the $8 fee the map was totally worthless since i had no idea what the color coding meant. go straight to the white and orange sections for "antiques" and lots of awesome vintage clothes. for the first time i've ever been shopping for used clothes, there's a lot better selection for guys. my sister was jealous.
there are lots and lots of japanese people, so you know the clothes are gonna be good. prices ranged from individually-labeled insanely expensive to everything on this rack for $10 to mountains of clothes on a tarp. i think i bought 10 things for $50.
oh, and tons of really hot girls.
Entrance Fee - $8
Mediocre Food - $8
ATM use - 5$
Buying a vintage bag and getting it home to find a sketchy tooth brush inside - Priceless.
I was pretty pumped on this place. So much to see and look through, it really sparks the bargain hunter in you. If vintage clothes are your thing this is the place, and pretty cheap! I would've had more fun tearing through the racks but it was so hot, I couldn't bare it. I recommend going in the cooler month. Records, Jewelery, Random painting, this place has soo much stuff. People watching is top notch and there are plenty of fun nik nacks to tickle your fancy.
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I love flea markets, swap meets, garage sales, etc.
This was the Mr. T of flea markets. There is so much to look at and you can find just about anything if you have the patience. The guy working at the frozen lemonade cart had an excellent sales pitch and the resulting beverage was delicious.
Lots of vintage shit and ironic t-shirts. Some cool furniture and nick-nacks. Some of the stuff seemed a bit over priced ($25 for a jesus watch... wwjd?), but I'm sure you could haggle. People watching was also a plus. I would opt to go during the cooler months as it felt like I was walking around in Satan's b-hole.
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The highlight of my month! sorta. It really sucks that this is during the 2nd Sunday of every month because i always seem to miss it. I haven't been in ages, so i went last month, and man I forgot how great it was! Me and my friend were probably at 1 stand for almost an hour, just digging through jewelry. This old guy just had piles and piles of old, vintage jewelry and you just had to dig! He just busted out some trays and you put whatever you wanted to buy on it and he gave me a price. I got like 4 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces and a ring for 5 bucks. and i wear one of the necklaces and pairs of earrings almost everyday... That booth made me really happy, aside from the old guy and his "ex-wife" arguing about really ridiculous things, such as their kitty cat.
This flea market is also good for finding really random knickknacks. The clothing isn't too great, but they have a lot of great accessories such as purses, hats, glasses, scarves, etc.
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With an 8 dollar admission fee (uh, excuse me?), best make it worthwhile and get there hella early. Have a fat wad of cash on you (prior to your arrival as the ATM fees at the stadium are 5 bucks on top of whatever your bank's gonna charge you), plus light clothing and comfortable shoes, haggling skills, and patience for days. Tons of everything you can think of. A ridiculous plethora of vintage clothing, shoes, bags, etc. Which also means a plethora of goddamn Cory Kennedy-esque dipsters (douchebags/hipsters) getting in your way. I'll have to admit, if I were a dude, it'd be a good place to "people watch". Unfortunately the only eye candy I was interested in was the overpriced mid-century furniture that I have no use for at this point in my life. Sigh.
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2nd sunday flea markets are really where its at. Tons of goodies at haggle prices. how can ya beat it!
Although I've never seen this spectacle before noon when I'm sure it is at its finest, Rose Bowl Flea market is still quite remarkable. Gone are the days of Danish kitchen sets for under $100, but you can still luck out with a gem here and there. Past acquisitions: a set of carved teak Scandinavian silverware for $20, $5 lps from the 70's, a red vintage Fiesta-esque salad bowl $5. It's best to have a map and meeting point- the place is an endless maze and it's easy to fall through the looking glass* Beware the $8 admission!
Depending on what kind of flea market shopper you are, the Rose Bowl can be
a. frusterating
b. overcrowded
c. overpriced
d. not worth it
e. fantastic!
I go with E because the vintage clothing section (over the bridge) is unbeatable. There are some seriously amazing booths there. One in particular is my favorite place to buy records outside of ebay and record stores. But, if you have a couple of bucks on you and you want to check out a flea market, this isn't the right one for you. It's $8+ to get in, and if you don't think ahead you're paying to use the ATM, and you have to do a loooot of searching/walking to score great finds. If you're looking for something specific (coffee table, summer dress, whatever) and want to spend a Sunday afternoon walking around, it's perfect!
Bring a hat/sunscreen and good walking shoes.
As long as you get there early enough to beat out all the annoying hipsters, you're bound to come across some great finds.
After hearing about how this was the mother of all flea markets, I desperately wanted to come here. But, month after month I somehow missed it! Every second Sunday, I seemed to have some other commitment that prevented me from seeing the greatness that is the Rose Bowl Flea Market.
Finally, after about 4 months of waiting, my day had come. Unfortunately, it was August and this is in Pasadena, where it's known to to get very hot. I guess everything was against me because I wasn't able to sleep the night before (for unrelated reasons). Since I was already awake, I hopped in my car bright and early and drove up to good old Pasadena.
Now like I said, it was during the height of a very warm summer. At 8am, it was already hot. I loaded up on sunblock before I left and had plenty of water on my drive up. But, I kid you not, during the 10 minutes that it took me to walk from the parking lot to the main entrance, I was already feeling overcome by the heat. I wasn't sure if I could make it, but I had waited so long that I didn't want to turn back. So, I paid my admission fee and waded through the crowd inside.
This place is HUGE! At first, I was excited. It was so big, with so many possibilities. But at the same time, I was overwhelmed. It was so big. And there were so many people. Kids, strollers, couples, elderly, all types. It was the type of crowd where you can't manuever around anyone; you're pretty much just stuck moving at a slow pace with everyone else. I didn't feel like I had the freedom to roam about and explore. Plus, it was so hot, that I knew I couldn't stay long. After about 15 minutes, I found a glass tabletop that I wanted and I was done. I just couldn't take the heat or the crowd any longer. WIth the sun baking into my skin, I made my purchase and barely made it back to my car in one piece.
Thankfully the vendor had someone on hand to cart the tabletop over to my car for me. I was very grateful because it was heavy and there was no way that I could have moved it myself. That is another downer. The parking lot is also large and a little distance from the Bowl. If you're buying large items, this is something to consider. I think you can drive up to a pick-up location that's a little closer, but you'll have to wait your turn as there will be other bargain hunters picking up their large items too.
I'm sure that this place is great and has some incredible finds, but it just wasn't for me. I might be tempted to try it again during the colder months when I've had optimum sleep, but I haven't done it yet. If you've got the stamina, go for it. Just be forewarned about the heat and the crowd.
Oh, when I arrived home, I was sunburned and exhausted. I left the tabletop in my car and immediately fell asleep after doing a faceplant onto my bed.
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Another great flea market
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This gets 3 stars only based on its size. It's huge. So yah, I guess you have a better chance of finding something you want to buy here than a smaller location (but that's just numbers). I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices they ask here. Now I know the basics of flea market shopping: bring cash, don't look flashy, come early. But seriously, everything here is waaaaaay overpriced. You could buy a new item at a store (and not have to walk for hours in the sweltering heat, deal with screaming sticky kids, or pay admission money). Just ridiculous. I am quite a shopper (ask anyone who knows me) and I left with nothing... I am a shopper - not a sucker.
Oh BTW: How do you feel about $6 ice cream sandwiches (the kind you buy premade by the dozen in a box for $3 at the grocery store)?
Can you say huge? My legs ached for 2 days after I came by. There's so much variety and diversity here it's almost like being on ebay. One corner you see kettle corn the other you see fake Gucci bags. Another you see a bread vendor and the other you see radios and clocks.
One thing I was disappointed about was the entrance price... $8! Not only that but the food and drinks here were Disneyland prices. A coke is $4 and a hotdog or burrito is $6+. They even had those frozen lemonade slush that come packed in those see-through plastic garbage bags. The food vendors were very Sysco'd if you know what I mean and nothing seemed even close to authentic.
If you want to have a fun day of looking for useless junk, make sure to prepare a little picnic lunch with a couple bottles of water or juice. Aside from the food prices... it seemed like most vendors were selling things at inflated prices. Every vendor I passed by I would hear the same line, "this sells on ebay for 3 times as more." I swear to god I heard that so many times it's not even funny. If you're a fool to believe any of what they say... then that's on you.
Another thing I found was that these vendors really don't want to bargain. What's the point of going to a swap meet if you don't bargain? Overall this was a fun trip but I don't think I can come here for a good 6 months. At the end... we didn't even buy anything but food, drinks, and an entrance to an everlasting bazaar.
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This is a fantastic flea market. They have a great selection and the prices are okay for a flea market (could be better). It's the new stuff that I go there for. I love the iBalm soaps (Formerly Bliss of Venice). I also love some of the crafty things they sell there. This is a great place to do Holiday shoppping as you will find unique gifts. Parking is a bit crazy...and I don't like that you can't bring dogs! But other than that it's my favorite flea market around
Wow. Don't think you're gonna come here, stroll through, ogle the wares and cruise outta there. I have a discerning eye and I even found some cool stuff here. Here are the things to know if you are new to the flea market:
A) Start from the back and work your way to the stadium.
B) Don't eat the first thing you see unless you're starving. The best thing all day was the baked yam I had next to the stadium. They have roasted corn too. The yam was duking it out with the desperation cheeseburger I had an hour before. The yam won.
C) Bring sunscreen.
D) Take shade near the stadium for a break. You can't do it all in an hour. Don't even try. Enjoy the entertainment. Have a yam (see point B).
E) Make sure everyone has a cell phone, cause you won't stay together. That way it's more efficient.
F) Don't douse your shoe purchase in alcohol, thinking it will sanitize the shoe. Apparently it de-glues. Who knew.
All in all a great time!
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Great flea market, but $8 admission sort of dampers the winning vibe! I went yesterday and scored a huge oil painting from 1974 with frame and all for $40. Also got some rockin' vintage mermaid prints and old tin serving trays for a buck each. Some of the vendors are surly, and I can understand why, but don't buy from vendors that harass you or laugh in your face when you ask them if their price is firm. I experienced a few of these and promptly walked away! Remember your shopping lessons.. If a flea market vendor wants $10 for an old rusty shelf, and you can buy it for $8.99 new at ross.. .where are you gonna go?? This flea market is HUGE and probably the best I've ever been to. You should be able to find what you're looking for - bring alot of cash as the ATM fee is $5! Cold water and a few snacks would be great too. Happy Hunting!
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This is the Mother of all flea markets! Hands down. It is held the second Sunday of each month, rain or shine! Not much of an issue here in LA, but I can tell ya, I've been there when it's raining and there were just as many die-hard deal-seekers as usual. General admission starts at 8am for $8... there are "early," "express," and "I'm super important so I've gotta get in now" admissions, but I've never felt the need to go those more expensive routes. There are PLENTY of good deals to find even if you don't get out there until noon... and the fun is in the searching & the haggling. The more established vendors with mostly new products cluster around the circumference of the Bowl. And all the "garage sale on the move" vendors fan out from there as far as the eye can see. Then vendors could be out there until 4:30, but they usually start packing up and slashing prices around 3pm.
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going there in june was a bad idea. it was blazing hot & i came back with a not so nice farmer's tan.
pros:
-the books were really cheap. bought one for .50
-its humongous (which might actually turn into a con cause it gets pretty tiring looking over everything)
-they have a wide variety, everything from honey to collectibles
cons:
-$8 for admission! which wasnt worth it cause i only bought ONE thing!
-pricey food. i was so hungry & thirsty, but getting ripped off from the admission was enough for the day.
-for a flea market, the majority of the things were pretty expensive
-how people try to sell everything to make some money, like really dirty/old vans, which cost only a little less than new ones..
id suggest NOT going when its blazing, cause it totally ruins the experience. people were getting carried away by stretchers, which was pretty scary.
if you've got stamina and you love shopping, this is the perfect place to spend a sunday afternoon. so it's the 2nd sunday of every month and there's an $8 entrance fee (which is totally worth every penny). there is SO much to see here! clothes, furniture, food, jewelry, random things like fake hair, vintage stuff, new stuff...it's got everything. there's some pricey vintage stuff, but also a ton of cheap fun stuff. i got some cool shades for $2.50 and a watch (that actually works) for $1.
i recommend bringing water (seriously, it's like $4 for a little bottle, and there are no water fountains anywhere). and the bathrooms are for sure NOT clean. oh, and dont wear flip flops because your feet will get FILTHY from walking around outside (there's a ton of dirt everywhere).
but other than that, have fun and happy shopping!
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Phew... Overwhelmingly amazing. 2 hours of aimless walking with a fresh squeezed lemonade = me leaving smiling with some amazing antique jewlery, a gumby lunchbox, and some fresh baked bread.
The entrance fee is now $8 a head. Think of it as motivation to find the o'spectacular awesome deal lying under a pile of stinky old shoes.
No, but really this flea market is probably the grand daddy of them all around these parts. It'd get five stars if the entrance fee was less... if you're a dude and have a female companion everything is counted in doubles..
So here's the roundup. The inner perimeter is where most of the new stuff is and the outside perimieter is most of the vintage stuff. And there's tons of vintage stuff.. everything imaginable... especially clothing. Don't bother with the rack with clothes all jumbled up together that's just used junk... the stuff organized in themes... well that's vintage.
I usually walkaway with nothing, except a sunburn and sore feet. Be prepared when you go... don't forget sunscreen on your neck and on your toes; throw a couple of granola bars in your messenger bag; and stow a couple of bottles of frozen water so they'll be ice cold and thawed out in the summer heat. Besides, you don't want to pay $4 for a soda and $6 for a weiner. Save the dough for a nice hamburger lunch at The Hat on Lake. There's nothing like a juicy burger after walking all day in the sun.
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Welllll.... I was there from 930am to 1pm and honestly I was and I am still kind of disapointed... overall ! its super pricey even a simple Churos made in 2007 10 mns ago cost $3.50 !
The only good point is the space, the site is indeed really spacious
I prefered the one of long beach even if its smaller.
But for Pasadena I will give it another chance next month and pay the $15 entrance fees for the 7am opening .
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You'll find me here every month rain or shine. I mean I will even cut vacations short if they fall on this second Sunday of the month shopping mecca.
I'm there for a very specific reason: vintage clothes. There's a whole lot dedicated to the gorgeous pieces from previous decades. I have a mild orgasm every time I push my cart across that little bridge that enters the vintage lot at the very back of the flea market. I usually bring about 100 every month and my large wire cart will always be overflowing with treasures. Parking is free too.
It's reasonably priced, with the few exceptions of the vendors who assume this is their private high end boutique. Don't be afraid to barter with the vendors. The worst thing they can do is say no.. and where else can you barter for the price of your goods? Admission raises every year.. about five months ago they made it $8(a one dollar increase). It's really worth it though.
a survival guide to the rose bowl flea market
1) arrive early ($8 gets you in at 9am; you cannot pay with coins)
2) wear sunblock
3) wear comfortable shoes
4) bring a large bottle of water
5) bring cash
6) bring your checkbook (for bigger purchases)
7) stay in the outer ring if you're shopping for vintage
8) stay in the inner ring if you're looking for homemade soaps and country clutter
there are thousands of vendors here and it is easy to get overwhelemed. i could easily spend an entire day walking around and getting lost among hipsters looking for old cowboy boots and t-shirts. i love shopping for vintage jewelry and purses.
prices can go either way. last week, i bought a vintage gold bracelet for a dollar, but passed on a pretty caftan for $75.
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Every second Sunday of the month, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena has this huge flea market where thousands of vendors come to sell antiques, paintings, and other home accessories. I honestly thought two hours would be enough time to shop (being that I'm a quick shopper) but there were just too many vendors and too much ground to cover. If you plan on going and want to find good deals, plan on being there for at least half a day. It's a good place to shop if you know what you're looking for and if you have the patience to wander through a sea of randomness. You also should know what a good market value is for the product you're searching for. Do your due diligence and you might walk away with a steal.
um..
..This place is overwhelming
I am a serious collector of stuff & flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores, dumpsters.. these are my second homes..
The Rose Bowl Flea Market is HUGE!!
I have never been so intimidated by so much stuff in my life.. besides the time I went to the Detroit Dump & coming from me.. well that says something about this place..
yes you have to pay money to get in (which in most cases I'd avoid, paying money to think about shopping is dumb) but the cost of your ticket stub soon disappears from mind as soon as you spot the first thing you want from this place.. actually as soon as you start people watching you realize that the initial price is worth the adventure..
The flea market is fun & you usually go home with a new prize & always with a handful of good stories..
Like every where else there are over priced items & super cheap ones.. you just have to keep an eye out.. try to bargain & keep moving..
I try to have the attitude of well if its there when I get back its mine.. there is just too much stuff here to not be picky..
and justin & I always set a cash limit for ourselves & at least one goal.. like, today I am looking for cowboy boots.. this way you don't spend all your money on ceramic puppies & then get all sap when you find the perfect pair of boots but have no more molla to take em home..
and dont get caught up in the inner circle.. its mostly crap.. skim it if you have time but walk quick because all the good stuffs in the outskirts..
Justin finds tons of tools & I find clothes, boots & bric-a-brac.. we split up & check in on each other from time to time.. its better for us this way because we are very independent & have different tastes but this place is a great place to just get together with a friend & talk & wander.. you'll always have something to talk about.. junk hunting is all about nostalgia & memories..
& come prepared..
Bring snacks, Large bags to carry your finds, cash, sunglasses, water, a hat, a sweatshirt & comfy shoes for walking a lot..
Justin & I missed the last one but let me tell you it was for good reason.. You will find us there from now on.. every second sunday of the month, a churro in one hand & a bag of junk in the other..
..and after of course we will be at munch company eating sandwiches with old ladies
Every second Sunday of the month, the Rose Bowl at Pasadena holds it's monthly swap meet. Here you can find vintage clothes, antiques and even new goods. The entrance fee is about 5 bucks and you can pretty much spend the whole day eating and shopping!
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