As shoppers hunt for bargains, the Arlington Civitan Flea Market marks 40 years

One of Northern Virginia's oldest places to hunt for a bargain is turning 40 — and it's arriving at a moment when a lot of shoppers are looking for exactly that.

The Arlington Civitan Open Air Flea Market marks its 40th anniversary this year, and the milestone lands on Saturday, September 5, when more than 150 vendors are expected from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the I-66 Parking Garage next to Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington.

The timing is hard to miss. With household budgets stretched and more shoppers hunting for value and secondhand finds, a market built entirely on the thrill of the deal feels very much of the moment. In Arlington, though, bargain hunting is not a new trend — it has been happening here since 1986.

That year, the Arlington Civitan Club and Arlington County teamed up to create a central spot where residents could sell and recycle used goods. Back then, it cost a quarter to get in. Four decades later, admission is free, and shoppers still turn up on the first Saturday of the month to see what they can find.

What they find fills multiple levels of the covered garage: furniture, household goods, antiques, vintage collectibles, artwork, jewelry, books, tools, toys, clothing, vinyl records, sports memorabilia and plenty of the unexpected. The club says roughly 1,500 shoppers typically come through each month.

Part of the appeal is that no two markets are the same. The vendors and the merchandise turn over month to month, so the early crowd gets the widest selection while later arrivals may find sellers more willing to talk price as closing time nears.

If you go

• What: Arlington Civitan Open Air Flea Market (40th anniversary)
• When: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: I-66 Parking Garage, adjacent to Washington-Liberty High School, 15th Street North and North Stafford Street, Arlington, VA 22201
• Admission & parking: Free
• Weather: Rain or shine — most vendors are inside the covered garage
• More info: arlington-fleamarket.com

The September 5 date falls on Labor Day weekend, as families wrap up back-to-school shopping and ease into fall. After this one, two markets remain this season: Saturday, October 3, and Saturday, November 7.

There's a cause behind the clutter, too. The flea market is the Arlington Civitan Club's largest fundraiser, and the money raised through vendor spaces supports the club's charitable work — including organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The club has been serving Arlington since 1960.

For the shoppers who keep coming back, though, the pitch is simpler. You never quite know what you'll walk out with — and after 40 years, that's still the point.