This past weekend, I attended the 4th annual Buffalo Artisans & Flea, held in the historic Cobblestone District. When I first heard about the event in early June, I immediately added it to my calendar and impatiently counted down the days. I’m happy to say— it definitely lived up to the hype.
Here’s a look at my experience at the market, what made it so memorable, and why I’ll definitely be back next year.
What is Buffalo Artisans & Flea?
If you didn’t get a chance to go, Buffalo Artisans & Flea is a weekend-long vendor market that took place June 28-29 in the heart of the Cobblestone District. The event featured over 150 small businesses selling everything from Buffalo-themed merch and vintage finds to jewelry, home decor, delicious food, and coffee.
This was the market’s first time in the Cobblestone District, and it couldn’t have been a bigger success. There was a great turnout for both days, with lines forming around the entrance early on in the day. Buffalo Artisans & Flea proved to be the perfect summer outing, blending a day of shopping and supporting local businesses while also appreciating the charm of Buffalo’s historic Cobblestone District. Part of what made this event so great is that it was fun for all ages. In addition to food and shopping, there was also a bounce house for the kids and alcoholic beverages for the adults.
My Experience:
My friend and I arrived shortly after the market had opened on the last day, Sunday, June 29. There was free parking available right next to the venue, and admission was only $5. I went in knowing that there would be a lot to explore and check out, but I didn’t know how much I would be personally drawn to each booth. I tried to check out as many booths as I could and I can confidently say that I was interested in at least one, if not multiple things, from each business. It was so hard to pick out what I wanted to buy because I truly loved everything I came across. I also found that the prices were very reasonable for homemade and vintage pieces which is usually not the case at other markets I’ve been to.
In addition, one of my favorite things about this event is that every vendor I spoke to was extremely passionate about their business and truly looked happy to be there. Whether they were making sales or just simply connecting with visitors as they talked about their art, the energy of this event was both warm and welcoming.
Small Business Highlights:
As I mentioned before, there were over 150 small businesses at Buffalo Artisans and Flea, all selling a variety of products. Some businesses that stood out to me were Buffalo Bead Bar, Good Neighbor Supply Co., Millennial Granny Club, Sweet Margaret’s Vintage, and so much more. I personally bought a pair of earrings at Buffalo Bead Bar and I loved that they also had a charm bar where you had the option to make your own charm jewelry. My friend bought an adorable Buffalo sweatshirt and baseball cap from Good Neighbor Supply Co, who had both cute and high quality Buffalo-themed pieces. As someone who loves to crochet and enjoys anything vintage, I loved seeing the crochet pieces at Millennial Granny Club and searching through the vintage finds at Sweet Margaret’s Vintage. Beyond those, there were so many other great vendors including businesses that specialized in candle making, stained glass decor, permanent jewelry, wooden decor, and hand painted vases! There was also plenty of food and drink options to enjoy at the market, including Nineteen Coffee, The Cheesy Chick, Buffalo Bros Burgers, and Queen City Meadery—just to name a few!
Overall, Buffalo Artisans & Flea was an amazing experience. It was well-organized, fun to explore, and truly had something for everyone. It was the perfect way to spend a sunny Sunday, all right here in the heart of Buffalo’s historic Cobblestone District. I’m already looking forward to next-year’s market, and next time, I will definitely be going to both days!
Photo Credit: Buffalo Artisans & Flea