When translated into French, the term “flea market” implies that a preloved item is infested with fleas. The history behind the term’s coining points to the Parisian outdoor bazaars that sell used and infested furniture for a fraction of its original price.
Luckily, we don’t have to worry about pests at modern flea markets. They usually offer good value for budget-conscious shoppers with a variety of items ranging from furniture to clothing and food.
If you’re out looking for good places to shop for souvenirs, knick-knacks, or great food, here are flea-free flea markets in and near Ottawa for you to explore!
613flea
Address: Aberdeen Pavilion, Exhibition Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W7, Canada
Contact Details: +16139924793
Operating Hours: Select Saturdays each month from March to October, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The 614flea Market is a not-for-profit endeavour organized by the team behind the Ottawa Antique Market and the Ottawa Vintage Clothing Show. With free admission, the market opens on select Saturdays each month between March and October.
Unlike the typical flea market, its stated aim is to help creative and vintage communities come into the spotlight. They invite dozens of artisans, designers, and makers from all over Canada to showcase their goods and spread awareness of supporting locals.
The flea market sells all sorts of items across its 150 handpicked vendors, from antique furniture to preloved vintage clothing. It’s also a good place to find locally-made goods like bags, accessories, jewelry, and other handcrafted items.
Tips: The 613flea Market currently allows pets to roam around the stalls with you. They have to be on a leash, however, and must be with you at all times. The market dates change frequently, so stay tuned for the latest updates on market hours and dates. Check out this page. |
Ottawa Farmers’ Market
Address: 1000 Exhibition Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W7, Canada
Contact Details: +16134173595
Operating Hours: Sunday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Ottawa Farmers’ Market has been serving Ottawans with fresh and self-produced goods since 2006. The flea market is a melting pot of local goods you can buy for cheap or a fraction of the price you’ll usually get at commercial spots.
The organization invites over 150 vendors from Ottawa and nearby towns, with nearly 51% of them being farmers and agricultural producers. They’re only open on Sundays and have five branches within 100 kilometres of the city centre.
The vendor list often changes every week, but staple products you’ll find sold here are honey, berries, coffee, chocolates, baked goods, apple products, maple syrup, craft beer, freshly baked bread, and handcrafted items like ceramics and cutlery.
Tip: The original Ottawa Farmers’ Market is located at Lansdowne Park and is open on Sundays. However, operating hours and market days for the other four branches vary, so check out this page to learn about their specific market hours. |
ByWard Market
Address: 55 Byward Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 9C3, Canada
Contact Details: +16132444410
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
When it comes to flea markets in Ottawa, there’s not one market more iconic and world-renowned than the ByWard Market. Established in 1827, ByWard Market stands as one of Canada’s oldest public markets, boasting a diverse array of over 600 vendors.
A few notable offerings include Canadian cheese, maple-infused chocolate, BeaverTails (sweet fried flat donuts), shawarma, fresh apples, strawberries, smoked meat, and poutine (Canadian french fries with gravy and cheese).
There’s also the occasional live music, street art, and handcrafted goods that are made by small local businesses in Ottawa. The indoor market is open daily, so you can drop by every day from morning until evening (or until your tummy is stuffed!).
Tips: ByWard Market’s Indoor flea market is open daily all year, but if you drop by between May and October, the market extends to the streets. The vendors often change during the outdoor market season, selling goods that you may not always find in the indoor market. It’s best to drop by in the mornings to avoid the crowds! |
Carp Farmers’ Market
Address: 3790 Carp Rd, Ottawa, ON K0A 1L0, Canada
Operating Hours: Saturday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm (every May to October)
Carp Farmers’ Market is only open every May to October, but this large flea market is one of the largest producer-based markets in Eastern Ontario. It’s located just a short drive away from Ottawa, but it’s best to plan your trip here in advance.
That’s because the market opens early in the morning and closes by 1:00 pm. There are tons of locally-grown goodies being sold here, like vegetables, fruits, handmade crafts, syrups, baked goods, and even hot sauces of different pepper varieties.
The market is fully outdoors, so operating hours are weather-dependent. If you come during the summer, it’s best to bring an umbrella to keep you comfortable as you run around or join in on market activities like the Garlic Festival every August.
Tips: Carp Farmers’ Market has free parking on the open grass area next to it. There’s also parking along Carp Road, but slots are very limited. The market is also known for its Christmas Market during the winter season. They sell Christmas decor, goodies, and even trees for the season. Just make sure to do your Christmas shopping early on in the season, as many items tend to sell out fast! |
Stittsville’s Carp Road Vintage Flea Market (formerly Carp Road Flea Market)
Address: 32079 Carp Rd, Carp, ON K0A 1L0, Canada
Contact Details: +16137912272
Operating Hours: Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (every May to October)
If you love vintage clothes, accessories, and goodies, keep Stittsbille’s Carp Road Vintage Flea Market. Established in 2005, this flea market is one of the few places where you can buy vintage and retro items all year round.
Their collection of vendors sells items ranging from fine china to luxury clothing. They also have items like outdoor tools, vintage memorabilia, books, vintage Barbie dolls, art, and even video games!
Moreover, the market also houses the Elizabeth’s Barbie Museum, a small gallery showcasing an extensive collection of vintage and rare Barbie dolls sourced from all over the world. There are about 24,000 of them displayed, with a few items up for sale.
Tips: Stittsville’s Carp Road Vintage Flea Market has plenty of free parking in the area. Plus, there’s also an ATM if you need to withdraw cash for items on sale. Some stalls accept card and debit payments, but it’s still safe to bring some cash with you! |
Yardley’s Antiques
Address: 1240 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3Y3, Canada
Contact Details: +16137399580
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
If you have a penchant for antique furniture and items, Yardley’s Antiques has an extensive collection of them for you to shop until you drop. They’ve been in business for over 35 years, collecting and preserving antiques from all over the world.
They specialize in antique furniture like chairs, cabinets, tables, vanity sets, and bookcases, but they also have antique lighting fixtures, mirrors, maps, bronzes, and all sorts of knick-knacks and decor for your home needs.
The shop curates an online store for customers to sift through their collections before dropping by. Note that only select items are displayed online, as they have a bunch more stored in their physical store, so don’t miss out on paying a visit!
Tips: Yardley’s Antiques stores a lot of breakable items with most of them rare and very expensive, so consider coming alone or be mindful of where your kids will be at the store. The items they display at the physical store are shown as-is, meaning they are kept in the same, original conditions they were received. Expect to find signs of wear and tear on items and make sure to inspect them before purchasing! |
Ottawa Antique Market
Address: 1179 Bank St Suite A, Ottawa, ON K1S 3X7, Canada
Contact Details: +16137306000
Operating Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Another antique flea market you should look out for is Ottawa Antique Market. The market has 25 antique dealers in their 10,000-square-foot market space, so there’s lots to explore here if you need antique goodies.
You can choose from Early Canadiana antiques, fine art, Mid-Century Modern furniture, Persian rugs, vintage clothing, toys, and records for music lovers out there. Most of the items they sell here are in mint condition, save for a few items that need restoration.
Even if you don’t buy anything, visiting the Ottawa Antique Market is a must-do when you’re in the city. You’ll find lots of items passed down from generations of Canadian families, and the vendors are more than happy to share their history with you!
Tips: Aside from purchasing antiques, the Ottawa Antique Market’s vendors also accept the buy-and-sell scheme where you can bring over antique items you own and sell them to the vendors. It’s best to have your items inspected and, if possible, appraised if they retain value. Most of the items they accept under this scheme are Early Canadiana, Victorian, Georgian, Indigenous, and Mid-Century Modern items, furniture, and toys. |
Murray’s Flea Market
Address: 525 High St, Carleton Place, ON K7C 3P1, Canada
Operating Hours: Friday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Murray’s Flea Market first opened in 2012. It’s one of the newer additions to Ottawa’s circle of flea markets, but it’s gained a reputation for being a hotspot for vintage toys, comics, costumes, and various homewares.
You’ll find a lot of quirky stuff here that you’ll mostly want (or need) for your growing collection. There are ceramics, head-shaped mugs, old rotary phones, signages, Christmas decor, and vintage board games you might haven’t heard of before.
Most of the items here are actually items from the vendors’ personal collections, each with its own history and charm. Many of what you can buy here are more decorative than functional, but if you’re an avid collector or knick-knacks, then this is your spot!
Tips: Murray’s Flea Market is completely wheelchair-accessible, but the pathways can still get crowded during peak hours (mid to late afternoon). It’s best to drop by as soon as they open at 10:00 am to ensure first dibs on cool items and lots of space to roam around with ease. |