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
Chase Brock of Brock’s Leather Craft stamps a name into a leather belt
8-year-old Gibson Wood holds a mounted bull horn
A collection of fishing lures
Collections of colorful glass bottles
Emma Lee Johnson, 5, enjoys a snow cone
A customer steps up for a slice of pizza
Native American turquoise and silver jewelry at Kory Kante’s booth
A framed velvet Elvis Presley and animal skulls
Artist Francisco Joseph of Gallery Languedoc
Hothouse tomatoes
Nathan Hodges and Pri Marrow with Marrow’s dog, Nahla
Kory Kante’s bohemian mobile truck
Wrestling action figures
