The Abbotsford Flea Market was a year-round flea market that took place at the Abbotsford Exhibition Park at 32470 Haida Drive on Sundays.
NOTE: As of 2024, this market has permanently ceased operations.
This article contains the following information about the Abbotsford Flea Market:
Hours and Dates | Admission Rates | Tips and Advice | Other Information
Flea Market at Abbotsford Exhibition Park
The Abbotsford Flea Market was one of the largest markets in the Lower Mainland. It used to run on 47 Sundays of the year. The market featured over 200 indoor and outdoor vendors in a typical week.
The market used to include both new and used items for sale. Visitors were able to find “vintage goods,” clothes, books and all kinds of electronics. When we last went (in winter) we saw piles of video games, kitchen gadgets, houseware items, tools, jewelry, toys, vinyl records, antiques and trinkets. There were also (non-second-hand) cosmetics, self-care items and a bit of fresh produce.
When we went most recently there were no food trucks, although there was a concession stand. Menu items included things like waffles, eggs, sausages, bacon, and toast and jam for breakfast. Lunch menu options included hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, chili, soup, bagels and pastries. Also for sale were tea, coffee, hot chocolate, juices and soft drinks.
Hours and Dates of Operation
The market was open every week of the year except for three or four. It was normally closed on the last Sunday in July and the first Sunday in August, plus usually the week right around Christmas and the first weekend in January. Regular hours of operation were from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm. Gates opened at 5:00 am for setup.
The Abbotsford Flea Market was closed for a number of months beginning in November of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The market reopened in April 2021, but closed again in December that year. It reopened in February 2022 and continued operating until early 2024. Unfortunately, the market is now permanently closed.
Flea Market Admission Rates
As of the last time we checked, admission to the Abbotsford Flea Market was $2 for most folk, but free for children ages 10 and under. Parking was also free.
Pretty much anybody was able to participate at the flea market as a vendor. Outdoor spaces were available on a first-come, first-served basis. As of the last time we checked, indoor tables cost around $25. Outdoor spots cost $30, plus $3 for a table.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips that were good to know when the Abbotsford Flea Market was open.
General Tips
TIP #1: If you were a shopper, unless you wanted to get there before other folks bought the best stuff, there wasn’t any need to arrive too early. Doors opened at 6:00 am, but that’s the same time that vendors arrived.
TIP #2: A lot of the best stuff got sold by the end of the day, and some vendors used to leave early. If you arrived towards the end, however, you probably noticed extra good deals.
TIP #3: The market was huge. There were usually lots of outdoor vendors, but the majority of booths were indoors (or at least that was the case when we went). As a result, unless you were an outdoor vendor, the market was a good place to be on days with rainy weather.
TIP #4: The main parking lot for shoppers was at Gate 2 (at the north end off Haida Drive). Outdoor vendors, meanwhile, entered with their vehicles at the Stadium entrance (off Trethewey Street).
TIP #5: Especially if you came from the far side of the Lower Mainland, we recommended combining your trip to the flea market with a visit to other events and places of interest in Abbotsford or the Fraser Valley.
TIP #6: Whereas the Abbotsford Flea Market took place on Sundays and featured mostly second-hand goods, the Abbotsford Farm & Country Market still takes place in downtown Abbotsford on Saturdays. It features between two and four dozen vendors selling everything from artisan crafts to plants, home-baked goods, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Advice for Vendors (and Potential Vendors)
TIP #1: If you were a vendor, it was best to arrive early to get a good spot (like near the entrance if indoors). Location was everything!
TIP #2: If you lived in the Fraser Valley and planned to have your own yard sale, and especially if you didn’t live in a high traffic neighbourhood, renting a table and holding your sale at the Abbotsford Flea Market was a great way to go. There were hundreds of potential customers for you to sell to (although lots of competition too).
TIP #3: If you planned to be a one-time vendor to get rid of your “junk”, it was a good idea to check out the flea market beforehand to get an idea of prices and where you’d want to get a table.
Other Information
For further details about the closed Sunday market, see the Abbotsford Flea Market website.
Similar events in other parts of the Lower Mainland include the Cloverdale Flea Market in Surrey and the Vancouver Flea Market (near Science World and Vancouver’s main bus and train station).
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