Where is it held?

The show is held along a stretch of Route 20 in Brimfield, Massachusetts, which is about an hour southwest of Boston.  This sleepy little town completely comes alive during the shows and is a lovely example of a quaint New England town.

Parking is plentiful, and lots are only $5.  Do not park illegally along the road, or you risk being towed.  Which is not an ideal situation to be in when you’re a) far from home and b) potentially have a lot of goodies to lug back with you. 

When is it?

The Brimfield show is held over a five-day period, three times a year: May, July, and September.  The 2008 dates are:

• May 13 – 18
  
• July 8 – 13
  
• September 2 – 7

How is it organized?

The show is made up of over 20 different independent “shows”, each with a staggered start time.  Not all shows are open for the full duration of the week, so it’s important to plan ahead and find out when and where the shows you want to see are open. 

Or, just wing it and go.  You’re guaranteed to find endless booths of goodies.

Some general tips

• The show runs rain or shine.  Plan ahead in terms of clothing, but be prepared for anything.  That means an packing an extra jacket, an umbrella, and tons of sunblock.  You just never know in New England.
  
• Food is plentiful at the show; but toting bottled water is always a smart idea. 

• Comfortable walking shoes are a must.  Leave the cute heels at home.
  
• Brimfield is primarily a cash market.  Some dealers accept checks; a few will take credit cards.  There are plenty of ATM’s along route 20 for your convenience.
  
• Bring some sort of wheeled cart or large bag that you can sling over your shoulders for your goods.  Otherwise, you’ll be forced to go back and forth to your car constantly.

Where to stay

There are tons of lodging options in and around Brimfield.  Sturbridge might be your best bet - it’s is the next town over and has plenty of places to eat and visit during your downtime – but if you want to park your car at the hotel and walk to the markets, stay right in Brimfield.

Must-visit links

Arm yourself with plenty of information before you go – visit these sites for more information on all things Brimfield.

A word on photography

Bloggers (or anyone who just likes to take pictures of things they love), beware: some dealers at Brimfield lose it when they see people taking photos of their booths, even from a distance.  There isn’t a posted “no photography” rule at Brimfield, and it is a public space, but be conscious of the fact that some have a real issue with anyone taking photos of their wares.

If you’d like to take shots, it’s probably a good idea to approach the vendor first, introduce youself (if you’re taking photos for your blog), and simply ask if they would allow you to take some photos.  If not, forget about it and move on.