Don't Miss Randolph Street Market Festival

For years, Randolph Street Market Festival has been one of my favorite places to purchase antique and vintage household items. Always on West Randolph Street, just east of Ashland Avenue, it has managed to maintain quality vendors over the past 10 years-plus. It was once the hottest spot in town, where interior designers arrived early to purchase collectibles and antique furniture for their clients. I always shopped early to get the best selection of items for my home. Most of the really good deals on the most coveted items were gone before the general public showed up.

Today the "Market"has changed, yet it remains an event you don't want to miss. It starts in April and runs through October on the last weekend of the month. Once held on Randolph Street, it has moved over to the south side of the street to the Plumbers Hall and its adjacent parking lot. Rain or shine, it is open for business. The next date is August 27-28, 10am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.

The Randolph Street Market Festival has evolved, becoming more of a collectibles and vintage clothing fair than an antique vintage market for furniture and home accessories. This fair does includes the Indie Designer Market, where up-and-coming designers gather to showcase their hats, jackets, dresses and hand-knit scarves. It’s mostly woman's clothing, but there are some interesting cufflinks for men. It's a place to find something unique and special while supporting local Chicago designers. It's a wonderful place to buy a gift for a friend or relative.

The amount of vintage clothing, handbags and costume jewelry is truly amazing. The selection from the 1950s through the1980s is one of the best I have seen in one location. If you are into vintage woman's clothing, this is where you want to buy. The selection of vintage purses is also amazing, but look around for values since some of the handbag vendors can be pricey. The many vendors are scattered throughout the festival, both outside and inside Plumbers Hall, so make sure to check them all out.

Last year I scored a red leather coat with a raccoon collar, a tan leather coat with a fox collar and a very Mad Men looking 1960s three-quarter sleeve black wool dress coat with a mink collar. It took me awhile to find the long black gloves to wear with the coat, so I didn't wear it last year, but you will see me in it this winter. Look around at the Randolph Street Market Festival and you will certainly find many statement pieces to add to your collection.

The costume jewelry selection is abundant, ranging from unsigned pieces to engraved items and vintage pearls. With all the choices, you should plan on spending some time looking through the many items available. Many of the pieces are truly stunning and are reasonably priced. I bought a beautiful rhinestone necklace this year that looks like diamonds; perfect for a charity event. There are also designer gowns that can be found for under $500, a fraction of the cost of a new gown and much more unique than what the new designers are showing.

Take a break and enjoy a glass of wine or an iced tea with a hot dog, ice cream, cookies and sandwiches, while listening to music. There is also a raspberry coffee cake made with fresh raspberries and cream cheese sold by a vendor from the Quad cities that is decadent. It's loaded with calories, but it is worth the extra time on the treadmill. I always buy two cakes and freeze one, so I don't eat them both in one week.

Don't miss the Randolph Street Market Festivalthis year. It's a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. The remaining dates are August 27-28, September 24-25 and October 22-23. There's also a Holiday Market, November 19-20, that you don't want to miss!

Tagged as: Randolph Street Market Festival, shopping, vintage, festival and antiques

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Terri Lee Ryan is a former Chicago commercial real estate broker, marketing consultant and hotel developer. An avid writer, she is the author of Life Is One Big To-Do List. In “People, Places and Property” she dishes on leaders in real estate, new places in your neighborhood and deals being done in Chicago.