It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Nope, not Christmas. It’s PORTER FLEA SUMMER MARKET!
Porter Flea was launched in 2011. Katie Alexander and her husband Matt Alexander have been hosting two markets every year since – summer and holiday – that highlight handmade and modern goods. There is definitely a focus on Nashville area makers which is great – I can support local businesses (that I can frequent with repeat business when it’s not Flea time!) but also support the handmade maker movement with vendors from other states, too!
You can do a quick Google search and see that Porter Flea has earned buckets of praise – and rightfully so. I attended my first Flea as a vendor – where I provided mini whoopie pies during Preview Night – summer of 2013 and I’ve been a customer ever since. It’s something I can recommend to tourists and to local friends without hesitation.
Here’s my Porfer Flea MO (PFMO if you will):
· Go on Preview Night. Less crowds. $25 ticket fee gets you free parking, two free Jackalope drinks, a tote bag provided and designed by Courtney at Hey Rooster (and printed by Friendly Arctic), and did I mention LESS CROWDS? (What can I say. I socialize like a granny.)
· Get to Preview Night by 6 pm so you can maximize all three hours of browsing + shopping + socializing time. You’ll use it all!
· Grab something to eat to fuel the next few hours you’ll be spending on your feet. I highly recommend Funk Seoul food truck’s Korean and Japanese fusion (sushi burrito!) with a side of Bubble Love bubble tea. Have a Caity Pie or two on Friday and bring some home – you’ll wake up Saturday wishing you had saved one for breakfast (I might be speaking from personal experience here).
· And if you can’t make it to Preview Night? Go anyways – on Saturday. The crowds + possible lines are worth it. I promise. It’s free on Saturday to enter the market (but $5 cash to park). You can also spring for a Porter Pass which is a reservation to skip the line on Saturday and gives you in-and-out access all day long!
DETAILS:
Nashville Fairgrounds
625 Smith Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Preview Market
Friday 6/28 6 – 9 pm
Free parking!
Main Market
Saturday 6/29 10 am – 5 pm
Parking $5 (CASH!)
LYFT and use code PFS19PREVIEW (Fri 6/28) or PFS19MARKET (Sat 6/29) for 10% off 2 rides to or from Porter Flea.
