This weekend: Food, art and vintage wares under one roof at annual Tacoma flea market
This Saturday, explore more than 75 local vendors purveying everything from handmade jewelry to hand-dyed yarn, plus 17 food options including gluten-free Pop-Tarts, gourmet hot dogs and savory Trinidadian pies.
The annual Fieldhouse Flea Market at the University of Puget Sound runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse. The $5 ticket (available at the door or in advance online, no fee for kids under 5) supports the Women’s League student scholarship fund. The organization, which has hosted the event since 1968, also sends proceeds from their own jewelry, “boutique” and Logger Booty (gourmet popcorn) booths to the cause.
Early arrival is recommended, especially to catch lunch at the outdoor food court and dessert from the various bakeries posted on the building’s second level.
Local food personality Kris Hay, who is a UPS alum and longtime employee of the career development office, curated the lineup. Tacomans might recognize her more readily as the human behind Tacoma Aroma Flavor, a blog, recipe collection and Instagram account that highlight local chefs and restaurants.
Outdoor vendors include:
▪ Big Dawgs Hot Dogs, a mobile cart often seen on Sixth Ave
▪ Jan Parker, known for her seasonal Filipino cooking at the farmers market and street festivals
▪ Trini Plate, where Abby-Gail Woods cooks the food of her native Trinidad and Tobago, including hand pies, goat curry and stuffed roti
▪ Red Elm Cafe, a Hilltop coffee shop with fresh waffles and paninis
▪ Iscreamery, the ice cream shop behind Brix 25 in Gig Harbor
Inside the building, find several bakeries and other packaged food specialties, including:
▪ Hunnybun Bakery, a vegan pop-up baker known for her Pop-Tarts and cake pops
▪ Girl Loves Cake Desserts, the Lakewood-based macaron and canele specialist
▪ The Common Cookie, with loaded cookies and more Pop-Tart-inspired treats
▪ The Brown Pecan, a mother-and-daughter duo crafting spicy candied pecans
▪ Bootsie’s Sauce Co., a Seattle-based hot sauce company
▪ Bona Fide Potents, a local shrub and elixir producer
The event typically attracts around 3,000 visitors, raising around $30,000 for the scholarship fund. It returned to full form last year, following three years of cancellations and one online auction.
FIELDHOUSE FLEA AT UPS TACOMA
▪ University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse, 3326 N. 11th St., Tacoma, pugetsound.edu/fleamarket
▪ March 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
▪ What to know: vintage and makers market with 15+ food vendors; $5 entrance fee available online or at the door
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the specialty of Hunnybun Bakery, which makes fully plant-based baked goods.
This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 11:15 AM.