Grayslake Illinois Antique & Vintage Flea Market and Wheaton Antique Market
From left: Grayslake and Wheaton Photos: Tim Zurko
  Grayslake Illinois Antique & Vintage Flea Market Kane County Flea Market
(St. Charles)
Wheaton Antique Market Wolff’s Flea Market
(Rosemont)
Best For Outfitting a rustic North Woods cabin Chip and Joanna Gainesifying your home Bedazzling a rumpus room in kitsch Literally anything, from vintage tools to Depression glass to seasonal produce
Admission $7 $5 $5 $2
Frequency Monthly Monthly from March to December Once in August, October, January, February, and December Every Sunday from April to October
Dealers 200 600 to 800 100 700
Ratio of Junk to Gems 1 to 9 1 to 10 2 to 3 1 to 2
How Bored Will Your Kids Be? Depends how deep they are into Little House on the Prairie Not much for young’uns aside from the occasional vintage Barbie They’ll dig the costume contest during the Halloween flea. Plenty of newish novelties, like Pokémon cards and original troll dolls, will keep them occupied.

Winner: Kane County

Fewer tube socks, more artifacts: Serious antiquers always come away with surprising finds.