Market Watch: A County-by-County Guide to Antiquing and Eating in the Philly Suburbs
Try the freshest produce and tastiest treats, then hit up the flea markets for your haul.
Finding treasures at Clover Market / Photograph courtesy of Clover Market
Thrifty Business
A guide to the flea markets, antique fairs, and vintage hubs for the best haul
If you’ve got a sharp eye and a Saturday morning to spare, the collar counties are a thrifter’s dream. Start in Bucks, where Rice’s Market, a 30-acre indoor-outdoor bazaar in New Hope, buzzes with energy on Tuesdays and Saturdays from March to December. You’ll find everything from mid-century lamps to crates of dusty vinyl, live plants, and puckery homemade pickles. Nearby, the Quakertown Farmers Market is a kitschy gold mine of old tools, comic books, and retro housewares. And Wrightstown Farmers Market isn’t just for heirloom tomatoes — you’ll also find upcycled crafts, repurposed furniture, and the occasional vintage clothing pop-up.
Still hunting? Head across the river to the indoor-outdoor Golden Nugget Flea Market in Lambertville. It’s a cult favorite for serious antique hunters — think military memorabilia, typewriters, and oil paintings that may or may not be haunted.
Back in the commonwealth, the seasonal Clover Market brings curated vintage, handmade goods, and small-batch snacks to towns across the region, including Bryn Mawr and Kennett Square. Booths Corner, a Delco staple since the ’50s, is a maze of Amish-run bakeries and corner stalls hawking records and other nostalgic collectibles. Brandywine River Antiques in Chesco packs three stories of treasures like tea sets and 20th-century folk art into a sprawling old barn, and down the road, Pennsbury Chadds Ford Antique Mall offers an equally eclectic assortment, with more than 100 dealers selling rare books and art prints by hometown painter Andrew Wyeth.
And while it’s just across the Montco border in Berks, Renninger’s Antique and Farmer’s Market is a pilgrimage spot for antique jewelry, glassware, and (also maybe haunted) taxidermy.
(Farmers’) Market Report
The freshest produce and tastiest treats in the region come courtesy of our suburban friends. Here, where and what to try.
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Peaches
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Celebrate peak season at this Lahaska destination with peach pies, cobblers, and the juicy fruit itself, fresh-picked from local farms — plus crafts, live music, and peach cocktails. The fest takes place August 2nd and 3rd. |
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Cider Doughnuts
Solebury Orchards, Bucks |
Come fall, this orchard churns out legendary cider doughnuts — best eaten warm, right after purchase. They’re a post-apple-picking staple, but there’s no rule against grabbing a bag beforehand. (Pro tip: They often sell out in the morning, so come early.) The orchard opens for the season on June 20th. |
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Mushrooms
Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, Chesco |
The Mushroom Capital of the World’s festival features everything from portobello sandwiches to mushroom ice cream (it’s actually great!), along with cooking demos and fungi-focused crafts. The fest takes place September 6th and 7th. |
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Funnel Cake
Goshen Country Fair, Chesco |
There are plenty of reasons to love West Chester’s old-fashioned summertime country fair — the live music, livestock exhibits, glee-inducing carnival rides — but the best may be the powdered sugar-doused funnel cakes. The fair takes place July 28th through August 2nd. |
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Ice Cream
Merrymead Farm, Montco |
On steamy summer days, cool off with house-made scoops at this family-run farm in Lansdale. Enjoy seasonally rotating flavors like peach melba and cherry vanilla while strolling around the grounds with the resident family of ducks. |
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Soft Pretzels
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This Wayne staple is packed with local Amish vendors, and the soft pretzels — hand-rolled and butter-brushed — are reason enough to go. Pair one with a wedge of super-sharp cheddar from S. Clyde Weaver, and you’ve got the perfect snack. |
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Cheese
Pennsylvania Cheese Trail, Chesco and Montco |
Thanks to easy access to top-notch milk, this state is a cheese lover’s paradise. Find some of the best goats, Goudas, blues, and Bries on the Cheese Trail, mapped out by the Pennsylvania Cheese Guild, including at Birchrun Hills Farm and Merion Park Cheese Company. |
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Apples
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Beginning in August, you can pluck Ginger Gold, Gala, Premier Honeycrisp, and more straight from the trees. And return for the fall fest on September 27th, an autumn rite of passage. |
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Wine
Penns Woods Winery, Delco |
On summer weekends between June and September, this family-run winery hosts live music on the lawn — pack a picnic, lay out a blanket, and sip a dry rosé surrounded by the vineyards. |
>> Click here to return to The Philadelphian’s Guide to Exploring the Suburbs
Illustrations by James Olstein
Published as “Eat Your Heart Out!” and “Thrifty Business” in the June 2025 issue of Philadelphia magazine.
