* Harvard Flea Market

HARVARD, Mass., August 7, 2018 – The League of Women Voters of Harvard and the Harvard Schools Trust are pleased to announce the 47^th Annual Columbus Day Weekend Harvard Flea Market, to be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Bromfield School (Rain date: Sunday, October 7). Admission is $3 per person for adults and seniors, $1 per child ages 6 – 12, and $5 for early birds (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.).
 
“Harvard is that picturesque, iconic New England town you see on a postcard,” said Steve Finnegan, co-chair, Harvard Flea Market. “Folks travel from Boston, NH and CT for a ‘flea market day’ trip among apple orchards, farms, a shaker museum, an old -fashioned general store, and beautiful hiking trails.”
 
Thousands of bargain hunters will descend upon Harvard this Columbus Day Weekend to attend the Harvard Flea Market, the largest one-day outdoor flea market northwest of Boston. Shoppers come with bags and carts in tow to visit over 170 booths filled with antiques and collectibles. In addition, there are toys and games, jewelry and vintage clothing, seasonal décor, artwork and paintings, pottery and glassware, Wedgewood and Spode, oriental rugs, farm and equestrian gear, handmade folk art and doll clothes, scarves, hats, sterling and leather products, tools and household items, linens and clothing, plants and terrariums, fossils and minerals, sporting goods, and so much more.
 
DEADLINE TO RESERVE A BOOTH
The booth reservation deadline for the 2018 Harvard Flea Market is September 16th. The cost to rent a 20’x 20’ booth is $75 for the day, with a “two-booth” maximum limit. Residents of Harvard, Still River and Devens will receive a discount price of $50 for a 20’ x 20’ booth rental. Confirmation letters will be mailed out in mid-September. Organizers report that the 2017 flea market sold out of booth space well in advance of the event.
 
FOOD COURT AREA
The flea market boasts a popular food court area with both traditional favorites and ethnic cuisines including Thai food and Greek desserts and comfort food including chili, clam chowder, mac and cheese, pulled pork, and warm pretzels. The Harvard Lion’s Club serves up hamburgers & cheeseburgers, chicken baskets, hot dogs, bean burgers, sausage & peppers, and their famous hand-cut fries, fresh-squeezed lemonade and fried dough. The Congregational Church of Harvard will hold its Apple Festival “Pies on the Common,” selling homemade apples pies fresh from local ovens. Bring a blanket to picnic on the Town Common or on the flea market grounds.
 
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
There will be parking and restrooms available with handicap access. Emergency staff will be onsite to assist with any medical emergencies. The Harvard Flea Market gate keepers will accept cash only (no checks or credit/debit cards) for admission. Some booth vendors may accept credit card payments via Square® or other apps, however, other vendors still can only accept cash. There is an ATM inside the Harvard General Store which is adjacent to the flea market. Dogs are permitted at the flea market provided they are on a leash and their owners pick up after them.
 
The flea market is a fundraiser event with proceeds from booth fees and gate admissions going to two local nonprofits: the League of Women Voters of Harvard, which educates citizens on civic issues, and the Harvard Schools Trust (HST), the local education foundation that provides educational enrichment grants to Harvard Public Schools.
 
“The Harvard Schools Trust is a wonderful partner,” said Josh Myler, Principal, Hildreth Elementary School. “Their support and encouragement strengthen our schools and community. It’s amazing that teachers and students can develop new and innovative ideas and then have the support of the HST to refine and then fund these ideas.”
 
For more information on the flea market, including directions, visit the website at www.harvardfleamarket.com. To learn whether the flea market has been postponed a day due to inclement weather, call the Harvard Schools Trust message line at 978-456-5085. 


About the Harvard Schools Trust
The Harvard Schools Trust (www.harvardschoolstrust.org) was formed in 1989 as a 501(c)(3) charitable, exclusively educational organization to raise funds to supplement the curriculum and activities of the Harvard Public Schools (www.psharvard.org). The Trust has awarded over $500,000 in grants that have provided Harvard Elementary School and the Bromfield School with curriculum support, equipment, extra-curricular experiences, and professional development. The Trust is independent of all municipal and school boards and teacher organizations. It acts in harmony with the schools’ educational goals and is governed by a board of directors consisting of parents and community leaders. For all the latest news and updates, follow the HST on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/harvardschoolstrust and Twitter https://twitter.com/harvardtrust.
 
About the League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters of Harvard (http://www.lwvharvard.org/), established in 1950, is a local branch of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and the League of Women Voters of the United States. It is a non-partisan, multi-issue, grassroots organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in local, state, and federal government and to influence public policy through education.