My favorite flea market is ALMOST HERE!! Gah! I’m like a kid waiting for a trip to Disney World. 

I’ve been making the trek to the Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days for 14 years now. It’s a rite of passage for flea goers in Minnesota.  Rarely do you see an entire town open its doors, windows, streets, and lawns for the stampede of the greater public. I return to Gold Rush Days in the same way that salmon return to their birthplace once a year. It’s familiar yet exciting—nostalgic yet new. The same faces are always there, but new ones crop up all the time—often bearing “fresh” junk. 

Oronoco (the town itself) is a fascinating place. Its connection to Gold Rush Days is grounded in community. I encourage you to check out the official site for the detailed history, but I’ll give you a quick ’n dirty start with “back in the days…”

Back in the days of the mid-19th century (1857, to be exact) gold was discovered along the banks of the Zumbro River near Oronoco, Minnesota. Not much there, though. Turned out to be a dud. More than 100 years later (1972), antiques would be considered “gold” and a new “gold rush” was born. Thirty-eight vendors were invited to exhibit their wares. Eventually, Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days exploded into the massive city-wide, community- and volunteer-driven event that it is today. Please check out the Web site, though—this was a seriously quick ’n dirty summary. 

Until you actually get there, it’s hard to understand the scope of community involvement. Quiet Oronoco, Minnesota, with a population of 965 explodes into EPIC ORONOCO, POPULATION 30,000. The town reinvents itself as a massive flea market, with Oronocoans (Oronoco-ites?) from 3 to 103 at the core of its creation. 

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The many vendor spaces and food sales pump revenue back into the community. Fire trucks and school computers materialize through this one-weekend extravaganza. One particular gentleman has put his children through college selling $1.75 homemade ice cream sandwiches. No lyin’. Ice cream sandwiches! They’re utterly delicious, too. You can’t leave town without eating at least one. 

Parking’s crazy. My advice? Hit up a homeowner and ask if you can park in his yard. This is a pretty fun opportunity. Homeowners are always interested in what you bring back from the market as you’re hauling junk treasure!

As long as I’m doling out my sage-like wisdom… Arrive at sunrise.  Vendors are just beginning to unveil their overflowing tables and booths. The early junker not only gets the best junk—they are also rewarded with the idyllic (and proverbial) calm before the storm. Sip some coffee, walk the streets, smell the anticipation, absorb the buzz…the hunt is on.

Eventually, you find your favorite spots and your favorite vendors. If you’re a repeat with specific interests, sometimes they’ll pick up stuff with you in mind. It definitely helps to develop a relationship with vendors at Oronoco! (It’s not that difficult to schmooze with such friendly people.)

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For eats, hit up the Oronoco Fire House for a hearty breakfast.  Burgers, corn dogs, turkey legs, pork chops, and all sorts of “faire food” are also plentiful. Dessert time is ice-cream sandwich time. You better not forget that. 

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Now it’s junk time. The junk is rife with diversity and comes in copious amounts. There is not just too much stuff—there’s too much good stuff. You won’t leave town because you didn’t find anything. You’ll leave town because your car is full. Pricey, beautiful antiques are just as common as cardboard boxes full of “junk for a dollar.” There’s something for everyone here. Even our Web guy found something last year that made him geek-out in glee. (Something about completing his “vintage Burger King Star Wars cup collection.”)

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As for me, I’ve walked away with all sorts of treasures. I bought one of those things mechanics use to get under cars (a car dolly?) and used it for a back hall shelf/coat rack. Snagged a plastic baggie FULL of antique drawer pulls which I transformed into picture hooks. Things needing no repurpose included a beautiful 1950s lampshade and a funny little steel statue (6”) of Olive Oyl in a red dress. Watch out, Popeye!

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To haul some of this stuff away, I flagged down a “professional” hauler as he passed by (“professional” in this case means local kids on ATVs). Ahh, Oronoco. The wonders of friendly (and guilt-free) community help. Charming to the max. 

After a long day of browsing, shopping, eating, and walking (much of it uphill), it’s nice to retire in Rochester, Minnesota. Last year, we snagged a bite at Famous Dave’s and rested at the Radisson. The Radisson in Rochester offers a special flea-market price for that weekend—make sure to mention what you’re in town for if you end up there. If you’re in the mood for some libations, head to the RedWood Room. Jazz music repurposes the soul.

If you just can’t get enough, hit up the Olmstead County Fairgrounds south of Rochester. The Original Olmstead County Gold Rush is packed with dealers and all sorts of junk (yep, junk!).

Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days is a junk event worth traveling for. Mark it down and embrace your future nostalgia! This year it all happens on August 15th, 16th, and 17th.

—Ki