Iowa City Area Guide to Antique Stores, Craft Shows, and Vintage Markets

Every mom deserves a “me day” every once in a while, right?! One of my favorite ways to spend a solo weekend afternoon is by taking a trip to a vintage market (some may call it a flea market, craft market, or antique market) or visiting a fun downtown area to see a few different antique shops. It’s also a fun day to gather up a few girlfriends (or an older kiddo) to shop and then break for lunch.

Now that it’s almost fall and we’re about to enjoy some cooler weather, the perfect activity for a kids-free weekend day is browsing treasures with a mug of hot coffee in hand. Below are some markets taking place around the area this fall, as well as some antique shops categorized by town, if you’re interested in a little shop-hop day instead. 

iowa city vintage markets craft shows antique stores

Vintage Markets & Craft Shows

Scotch Grove Antique Fair and Flea Market: Sept 8-10 and Oct 13-15, Scotch Grove

Good Maker’s Market: Sept 8-9, Tipton

ICM Made Market: Sept 10, Coralville

Revival on the River: Sept 16, Cedar Rapids

Fall Flea and Fair at the Barn: Sept 22-23, Wellman

Harvest of Junk at The Farmer’s Wife: Sept 29-30, Marengo

Nettianne’s 4th Annual Shed Sale: Sept 29-30, Marengo

What Cheer Flea Market: Oct 6-8, What Cheer

Fall Barn Show at Farmhouse Market: Oct 13-14, Tipton


Antique Stores

Iowa City

Iowa City has a handful of antique shops throughout town instead of condensed in the downtown area. This lends itself to a few different shopping days instead of just one!

Artifacts : This one is one of my favorites and I’ve visited this shop a lot since I was in college. As a bonus, it’s near some great lunch spots, like Bluebird DinerEl Banditos, and Devotay.

iowa city vintage markets craft shows antique stores
Artifacts at Gilbert St and Market St

Iowa Farmhouse: Formerly the Rug Cottage, this spot is along Highway 1. It’s en route on your way to Sister’s Garden and Bloom in Kalona, which is also along Highway 1.

Crowded Closet: Crowded Closet is a non-profit resale shop with a great antiques section as well as an international gift shop. All profits support Mennonite Central Committee.

Sweet Livin’ Antiques and Art:  This store focuses on a great selection of vintage records. It’s in the South Gilbert Street area along with Crowded Closet. Big Grove Brewery has a great outdoor patio and is also in the same area. 

West Branch

West Branch has a charming downtown area for an afternoon of browsing. Reid’s Beans is a great place to refuel after hitting the shops.  

Red Barn Market Antiques

Main Street Antiques and Art

West Branch Emporium

Mount Vernon

I love shopping and walking around in Mount Vernon. Fuel  is a unique spot to grab a cup of coffee when you need a break. The shop even has its own treasures to browse.

Polly Ann’s   

Alice’s Wonderland

School House Antiques

First Brick Antiques

Kalona

You can’t not love spending time in Kalona, especially when you can end your shopping day at Tuscan Moon or Kalona Brewing Company.

Kalona Antique Company

Sister’s Garden and Bloom

Vintage Chic

iowa city vintage markets craft shows antique stores
Spending some alone time browsing a huge selection of antique books…heaven!

Of course, there are many other great places to spend a day shopping outside of the Corridor. Visit Iowa Antique Network for antiquing road trip routes throughout the state.

Do you have a favorite antique shop or show? Happy junking!

For more festive fun and seasonal events, check out our Ultimate Guide to Fall in Iowa City


 

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Brigette
Brigette lives in North Liberty with her husband Brian, energetic daughter Kate (October 2014) and their two cats, Penny and Olive. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Brigette came to Iowa City to attend the journalism school at the University of Iowa, fell in love with the area, and decided she couldn’t leave. After meeting Brian while working at the same Iowa City restaurant in college, they got married in August 2015 in the heart of downtown. She works full time in project management and as an employee of the Core Fitness Kids Club while finishing her MBA at Upper Iowa University. In her free time, she drags Kate out garage sale-ing, tries to keep up with her reading list and runs, lives for Hawkeye football season, enjoys a good meal on a patio, runs her Bachelor/Bachelorette bracket with her family and friends, and of course, chases her daughter around the pool and the park.

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