LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Halloween junkies painted Detroit Avenue in black, orange, green, purple and other spooky colors during the 10th Annual Halloween Flea Market.
On Sunday, hundreds of people, some wearing full costumes with makeup, took advantage of the unconventional flea market organized by Black Market Records and the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick. The market was held inside and outside of several other on Detroit Avenue from West 112th Avenue to Fry Avenue, including No Class, Studio West 117, Ohio Inn, Five O‘clock Lounge, Brother’s Lounge, among others. Have Fun Tattoo also showed off its offerings.
Dozens of vendors greeted attendees, selling Goth-inspired clothing and jewelry, handmade earrings, pottery, totes, bumper stickers, and more.
Christine Pyles of Delicate Waktkins Shop put her handmade goods on display. Pyles offered Halloween and food-themed earrings, including her fan-favorite black cat wearing a white dress, as well as her magnets, pins and other products. It was her first Halloween Flea Market, after applying unsuccessfully for several years.
Pyles said the format for the event was definitely a change of pace.
“I think it is jarring for people to come out from the beautiful day into a dark area,” she said inside The Symposium, which was shadowed by dim lighting. “People need to come in and kind of get their bearings before they come over.”
She added that the people that have come in know what they are there for and are excited about the event.
“They‘re dressed for it. It’s not something they just stumbled into,” she said.
Another newcomer, Lindsey Nikithser, displayed her various spooky and fall-themed sweets, including Rice Krispie treats topped with sprinkles in Halloween colors, candy corn, M&Ms, and eyeballs, along with apple cider donuts with vampire fangs and pumpkin spiced bread.
“I started baking from my house just for friends,” Nikithser said of her young business Salt & Sprinkles, which she founded in 2023 after a friend ordered two dozen cupcakes from her. “Apparently people don‘t like baking and there’s a bigger market than I thought there was.”
Nikithser said things had been very busy at the Halloween Flea Market.
“Usually, it’s friends and family that come buy my stuff, but complete strangers want my rice Krispie treats and cookies,” she added. “This is amazing!”
Irwin Williams of Cleveland decided to do some last minute Halloween shopping at the flea market, which he heard about through Instagram. Williams said next year’s flea market is already on his calendar.
“It was easy to navigate,” he said. “There were a lot of unique locally made products and absolutely delicious treats.”