DU QUOIN -- The Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Exposition Hall is the site of the hugely popular "Giant Flea Market" every month. According to longtime organizer John Crouch, as many as 1,000 customers pass through the Expo Hall doors.
The flea market usually occurs on the first Sunday. This past Easter was a rare exception.
The market day runs from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission is $1.50, and children under 12 get in free if accompanied by an adult.
Each monthly sale is a treasure trove of old and new items, an eclectic blend of traditional and modern. Merchandise prices are reasonable, and comparable to yard or garage sales.
Crouch remarked that the jewelry display is always a popular table, along with the spaces occupied by tool traders and coin dealers. He added that the flea market has been in existence for 31 years.
"I was one of the first ones to rent this building after the state purchased it from the private ownership," he said.
In addition to the vast selection of goods to buy, Crouch is pleased to report that people can take advantage of a highly-recommended concession stand. The plate-lunch special consists of roast beef with mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn.
Crouch said that the event draws visitors from other states, including Kentucky, Indiana, and Missouri. Some of the merchants travel within the regional area, from towns like Metropolis and Springfield.
It is easy to get caught up in memories of one's own past, sorting through collectible items like Raggedy Ann dolls, and Noritake china similar to the set grandma used.
Du Quoin resident Jeff Huffstutler has operated a table of glassware and other assorted knickknacks at the flea market for the past 25 years. He was pleased with the turnout last Sunday.
"It's a little bit above average today," he said. "If it had been warmer, people would be out in their yards. I think the rodeo helped us out, too."
Jimmy Erskine of Tamaroa, along with his music booth, are a more recent fixture at the Expo Hall. Originally from Long Island, New York, Erskine now calls Tamaroa home.
An expert in popular music and collectible records, Erskine is hoping to open a store in Pinckneyville soon. He has been attending the flea market for a year, and plans to continue to do so.
"I love to talk music -- I'll talk music all day," he said. "It's work, but it's also play -- I just really enjoy it."
Du Quoin native Carol Carver also loves the flea-market experience. She arrived Sunday without needing to buy anything in particular. She explained that she meets her sister who drives down from Jackson, Missouri, and the two make a day of it.
"We do double duty. We visit and do the flea market," she said. "We look to see if there's anything that we take a notion we like."
It did not take Carver long to find a decorative, wooden shelf that she decided would be perfect to display pictures of a half-dozen adorable grandchildren.
The Expo experience redefines one-stop shopping, as there may be no other venue that can offer the buyer an antique sled, a vintage fishing rod, and a Meatloaf record album, in one fell swoop. Something for everyone, indeed.
