Fairgrounds ready for 43rd year of Tiffin Flea Markets

Tiffin Flea Market personnel are expecting more than 300 vendors and 5,000-7,000 shoppers to descend on the Seneca County Fairgrounds this weekend to start its 43rd year. "The garage sale area will be open and all the buildings are open," said Joan Zimmerman, flea market coordinator for the Seneca Junior Fair Foundation, which sponsors the event. "The first show brings a big crowd. We're kind of excited." Volunteers have cleaned the buildings and everything will be ready for vendors to set up, she said, and to welcome visitors. She said most shoppers travel to Tiffin from elsewhere in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Canada. "They come from everywhere," she said. "It's amazing how far they come." Zimmerman said flea market workers haul purchases from the grounds to the vehicles of shoppers as a courtesy. At the same time, they talk to shoppers about where they're from, or they check license plates to find out locations. "There's a crew that comes from Canada every year," she said. "But I'm not sure if they're going to let them out (of Canada) this year." Zimmerman said COVID standards are being met. People are encouraged to wear masks and social distance, and to frequently use the hand sanitizer provided. "We'll do what we can do," she said. Vendors start lining up early Friday morning to get their favorite spots when the gates open for setup, she said. They set up inside buildings and outside across the grounds. The market is open to shoppers 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine. Parking and admission are free, and food is available on the grounds. No pets, including dogs, are allowed on the fairgrounds. Zimmerman has been assisting with the flea market since 2006, she said, when she started helping the late Don Ziegler. She slowly took over operations, except for advertising, and when Ziegler died she took over the entire process. "We do a major amount of advertising," she said. The flea market, one of the largest in northwest Ohio, is a fund raiser operated by volunteers for the Junior Fair Foundation, a non-profit tax-exempt organization. The organization is dedicated to providing opportunities for Seneca County youth to learn and develop leadership skills through participation in activities and programs. Funds raised pay for improvements on the fairgrounds and projects that benefit Junior Fair youth. To date, three building projects have been completed. The Hog Barn was constructed in 1973 for housing and exhibiting swine and sheep, which caused participation to triple within three years, according to the flea market's website. The Beef Barn was built in 1979 to house and exhibit beef and dairy cattle. The Youth Center was built in 1992, and includes a kitchen and dining room, meeting room, office space, restrooms and showers. It is used year-round by groups and organizations as well as private rentals. In addition to this weekend, this year's dates are: May 15-16 June 12-13 July 3-4 Aug. 14-15 Sept. 11-12 Oct. 2-3 For vendor details or information on garage sale space, visit tiffinfleamarket.com.