5 Long Island flea markets for clothes, jewelry, home finds and more

Summer’s here and the time is right for shopping in the streets — or the park or other outdoorsy spots. Where else can you scout chic clothes or artisanal foods while you eat ice cream and walk the dog? It’s local flea markets’ high season, and before the tents and tables go up, there’s some crafty curation, as organizers pick and place vendors offering everything from delicious bites to one-of-a-kind creations.

Hoarders Flea Market, Centereach

Although Hoarder’s Flea Market is in only its second year, organizer and creator Lisa Silla, of East Moriches, has been selling off folding tables since the 1970s.

"My mother gave me a couple of snack tables and asked me to go in the garage and take out some cardboard boxes. She handed me a roll of masking tape and a magic marker. I made about $20 that day," she recalls with a laugh. After that, family members and neighbors and later professional sellers joined her sales.

Now she gathers dozens of vendors once a month through fall. She’s got a food court with a Brazilian chef, antiques and collectibles, new and vintage clothes and lots of toys. To keep the kids busy, there are lawn games like ring toss and the classic Ping-Pong ball into the fish bowl, and to keep everyone looking there’s a scavenger hunt with rubber ducks hiding gift cards.

"It’s almost like a community event," Silla says, "a place for people to gather."

Nassau County Fairs, various locations

Nassau County Fairs brings food, entertainers and vendors across the county through November. Rather than coming to the same location weekly or monthly, the company will be presenting free street festivals, flea markets, arts and crafts fairs, and farmer’s markets, like the Freeport Craft & Gift Fair on Nautical Mile on July 26.

Fair manager Paula Carey isn’t just the organizer, she’s a vendor herself, selling handcrafted metal ornaments and embroidered towels that she, her sister and her daughter make. With somewhere around 40 vendors, there are plenty of finds.

"We have vintage clothing, handmade clothing and jewelry, those cute knitted and crocheted animals, and toys for kids," she says. Watch for the Farmingdale Craft & Farmers Market on the Village Green on Aug. 30, a Craft & Gift Fair at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow Sept. 5-6, and the Merrick Street Fair with a carnival and live music Oct. 24-25. Go to nassaucountyfairs.com for the full list of times and locations.

Huntington Flea

Instead of trucking all over Long Island, Huntington Flea stays put at 1057 New York Ave., Huntington Station, but changes up the vendors every week. Sundays through Nov. 15 you'll find up to 70 vendors and hundreds of shoppers.

"We’re a curated vintage and handmade market," said event organizer Adam Klein, "specializing in clothing from the '70's to 2000s, antiques, home goods, jewelry, collectibles and original artwork."

With food trucks, music filling the air and shoppers of all ages, "it sort of has a the feel of an event or a fair," Klein said. "If you’re looking to find a huge selection all in one place of vintage clothing, collectible jerseys, concert T-shirts, antiques, then this is where you’re going to find it."

Bellmore Flea Market

The Bellmore LIRR station trades commuters for collectors two to three Sundays a month through Nov. 1. Vendors selling books and comics, vintage and new clothes, toys and food start showing up at 6 a.m., all organized by the Bellmore Lions Club and local Congregation Beth Ohr. Bring cash, and get there early. The market officially runs until 3:30 p.m.. Whether you find something special or leave empty-handed, it’s for a good cause — proceeds from the vendors’ fees support local nonprofits.

Oakdale Flea Market

Susan Scheck, of Hauppauge, enjoys exploring and finding the unexpected. She recently discovered an under-the-radar treasure behind a favorite brick and mortar, Remember Yesteryears in Oakdale, which specializes in antiques and vintage jewelry.

"Remember Yesteryears sponsors a flea market in its parking lot, she said, every other Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. "There was one vendor selling records and old musical instruments from the 1950s and ‘60s, and he had a dance floor and a jukebox playing. It was like you were walking like a disco. I love it when I’m surprised like that."