There are two options for December 24th. In the first scenario, you wake up slowly in the morning, leisurely prepare a cup of coffee, and put on a classic holiday film like Jingle All The Way, assured that the perfect gift for everyone is safely under the tree.
In the second scenario, you wake up and live out Jingle All the Way — you find yourself racing around town frantically searching for the perfect gift.
Stopping by Morden’s Christmas Flea Market this weekend could increase the likelihood of the first scenario. The market, which will be held on November 16th, will have a wide variety of gifts for many different interests. For the Christmas shopper, there is also the added benefit of perusing at a comfortable pace.
“It's nostalgic, just like most flea markets are,” says Trent Medynski, the organizer of Morden’s Christmas Flea Market. “We are going to have a real mixed bag of things.”
Items from through the years
Medynski says the number of vendors for the flea market is hovering around 13. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the vendors and the new and pre-loved items one will find:
-Two vendors with vintage jackets, accessories, and t-shirts available.
-Moody Afternoons, a local business that hand pours scented candles.
-Revive and Restore Athletic Massage — they will offer a “swag bag” and an opportunity to win a free 30-minute massage.
-Sports collectibles and cards from Thumper Authentics. Medynski notes that this vendor has items at every price point.
-Local retro collectors with toys, games, and puzzles from the 80s and 90s.
-Plush toys, pins, and pop culture items from another local Morden vendor.
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According to Medynski, this is just a taste of what will be at the flea market. He himself is a vendor with a collection of “nostalgic” items.
“I have a lot of retro toys, a lot of records. I have some videogame [merchandise] and comic books [too],” he says.
For those who are also literature-inclined, the flea market will feature the official book release of London Calling by local novelist Scott Sitompul.
“I thought . . . this [would] be a great opportunity to put somebody who's a local artist into this as well because it is a flea market, so it's an open door for all things,” says Medynski, “I liked it. I liked what he was doing.”
Morden’s Christmas Flea Market takes place on Saturday, November 16th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Morden. Admission is free.
That unique feeling
For Medynski, just as it is with his personal collection, at the centre of the market is nostalgia, a concept that tends to go hand-in-hand with the holiday season to create a welcoming atmosphere of warmth and community.
“It's a bit of a route back to my childhood in a lot of ways. I had a good childhood and a fun childhood,” he says, adding that he also appreciates the social aspect of the flea market.
“I enjoy the other people with their collections and whatever they're doing. It doesn't have to be the same thing as me,” he says. “[I also enjoy] the people coming in and meeting [vendors] and talking and not necessarily buying things — it’s just [nice] to meet new people.”
This weekend in Morden, surround yourself with nostalgia, holiday cheer, and perhaps timely gift shopping. Your December 24th self will thank you.
With files from Ty Hildebrand