STATE COLLEGE — The Happy Valley Flea Market is back and growing.
For its second year, the event will again coincide with Penn State University’s Blue-White weekend, as well as into the future. This year’s opening weekend will be April 16 and 17.
“It went very well last year,” said owner Scott Lang. “We were busy parking cars the whole day. It was nonstop people coming in.”
The Happy Valley Flea Market, located at the former Starlite Drive-in Theatre at 1100 Benner Pike, hosted up to an estimated 2,000 and 2,500 on its opening day last year, said Lang, though an official count was not made.
“It’s great,” said Lang, of the former drive-in. “It’s perfect for what we’re using it for.”
The leased location includes 16 acres, which Lang has worked to utilize. This year, the flea market will offer many new attractions for visitors, including concessions, laser tag, car shows, and the returning Truck and Tractor Show.
For Lang, the goal is to find a balance between the number of vendors and customers.
“I think the big thing is just to have a consistent draw of people,” said Lang. “I think having something else for people to do when they come out to the flea market will be a big plus.”
For Lang, meeting people is the best part of being involved with the flea market. “This is something unique and I’m outside all the time. It’s just, you know, enjoyable being around lots of different types of people,” he said.
Lang hopes to bring younger crowds, especially college students, with the added events like the high tech laser tag, which will be in the back of the lot near the screen and in the woods behind it.
“It’s not like the typical one where you have to wear a vest. You wear a small sensor on your head and one in the back and front. Some of the guns can shoot one to three football fields,” he said.
The flea market occupies 6 acres and features 178 stalls available to vendors. Prices remain the same as last year, with stalls going for $15 for a one-sided 20-by-25 foot stall and $20 for a corner stall.
A $5 discount will be offered per site for two day reservations. A “Past Vendor Appreciation Discount” of $5 per day will also be offered during the opening weekend of the event.
The event will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and admission is free. Gates will open to vendors for setup at 6 a.m.
The event, which will be open for six months, is rain or shine, which can be a gamble.
“I think April’s a good time to open — knock on wood it doesn’t snow,” said Lang.
Throughout the year, he has seen a large variety in merchandise, from handmade furniture to pools to antiques to car parts. The vendors, however, tended to be locals.
“People from the area, instead of having a garage or yard sale, they would come out because they had a lot more foot traffic, a better chance to sell your stuff,” he said.
As for Lang? He’s been a buyer, “unfortunately,” he said, laughing. He has picked up a few tools and a snow blower, but he isn’t yet a seller.
“It’s seemed like I’ve kept busy, you know, just with the operation,” he said. “But I may do that at some point. I’ve got things to sell.”
For more information, visit www.happyvalleyfleamarket.com.
