Woodworker Tony McCleery, of Packwood, unloads a dresser he built to sell at the Packwood Flea Market this past Memorial Day weekend. The twice-annual community wide flea market stretches along miles of U.S. Highway 12 and lasts throughout the long holiday weekends of Memorial Day and the upcoming Labor Day.
Bob Chapman, Seattle, sorts through "magic tops" as he unpacks clothing for his booth at the Packwood Flea Market on Thursday. Chapman says he has operatored a booth at the flea market for over 30 years and has 80 feet worth of space Ñ which his says is the largest at the flea market Ñ which will offer an assortment of sandals, hats, clothing, as well as shaved ice. Chapman says it takes him three to four days to set up his booth and will have three temporary employees help him run the space this weekend.
Laurie Livezey offers her orange-winged Amazon, Squeaker, a sip of her whiskey and coke on Thursday at the Packwood flea market. Laurie and her husband David, from Federal Way, have been vendors at the Packwood flea market for 15 years and travel around the country in a converted bus selling a variety of goods at flea markets across the country.
Randy, right, and L.J. Thorp set up their booth for Scentsy Wickless Candles on Thursday at the Packwood flea market. This will be the second year the Thorps, from Wenatchee, have participated in the flea market.
Both sides of U.S. Highway 12 in Packwood were beginning to fill up with vendors for the Packwood flea market on Thursday.
David Livezey helps a customer with questions about a knife in his booth at the Packwood Flea Market on Thursday.
Dave Sawyer of Morton, right, peruses the hat collection of Arlee Trichia, left, on Thursday at the Packwood Flea Market. Sawyer purchased the Dorfman hat for $14, which he explained was a "minor" discount. Trichia, a vendor at the flea market for over 20 years, sells a variety of items including knives, sports gear and devil masks.
Thousands of travelers and bargain hunters visit Packwood's semi-annual flea markets, held during the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends. Nearly 500 vendors from around the Northwest are already gathering along U.S. Highway 12 and will continue selling goods until the end of this long weekend.
“It takes a couple days to really see everything,” said Maree Lerchen, a local business owner and chair of the White Pass Scenic Byway.
Vendors will be offering a wide range of wares including collectables, plants, toys, antiques, bird feeders, tools, foods, and handmade crafts starting around 9 a.m. and continuing until crowds thin in the evening.
“The unique thing about the Packwood flea market is it is all independant,” said C.J. Neer, the executive director at Destination Packwood.
Community members organize the events, which are independent of any centralized organization.
Many business and property owners along Highway 12, also known as the White Pass Scenic Byway, rent booth space and determine fees on their own.
The better attended Labor Day market is the original event while the Memorial Day event was added more than 20 years ago.
“It’s the end of summer so a lot more people attend the Labor Day market,” Neer said. “It’s the last hurrah before school starts.”
Neer said 10,000 to 20,000 people visit the small town with a year-round population of just over 500, depending on the weather during the event.
“It’s supposed to cool off and be nice so I’m expecting record crowds,” Lerchen said.
Lerchen said while she dislikes the traffic, she appreciates the event because local nonprofits like the school, the senior center and the Packwood Improvement Club raise funds during weekend.
“It gives people the opportunity to see what a lovely area we have,” Lerchen said.
Neer mans the visitor center during the markets, providing tourists with information on the wide range of outdoor activities offered in the area like skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing and hiking.
“I like the people coming in looking for reasons to come back to Packwood,” she said.
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Amy Nile: (360) 807-8235
