FDR Flea Market
FDR Park
1500 Pattison Avenue and S Broad St.
Philadelphia
June 13, 2026
Last Saturday I visited FDR Park for a summer Flea Market. FDR hosts a variety of events all over their sprawling grounds, and I decided to check out this event for the first time despite having about $20 to my name. Reader, we both know the economy is fucked up, and that even being outside these days seems to cost money. As a result, I decided to simply browse and report some of my more interesting findings in hopes that people will have an idea of what to look for when the next Flea occurs in September. The June edition was modestly sized, taking up only one section of the parking lot of the American Swedish Historical Museum which made for not much foot traffic, easier browsing, and much more aggressive selling. Fortunately, the pressure put on potential customers was offset by the sounds of a lovely jazz quintet playing nearby. I don’t think they had anything to do with the Flea itself, but they were absolutely a welcome addition.
So without further ado, here are five things I didn’t buy at the FDR Flea.
First up, we have some kind of handheld, Wyatt Earp-themed bayonet sure to elicit the question of “Why do you have this?” from any reasonable person in your life. The dude selling this, along with a vintage starters pistol and a dull Wild Bill Hickock-themed buck knife, informed me that he had another, de-serialized piece on his person for sale before pulling his shirt tight against himself to show how easily concealed it was.
This same gentleman then proceeded to show me his “small sacks of gems,” even inviting me to trade my silver herringbone chain for any combination of previously browsed items, including the weapons. The gems were all at varying levels of verification, some he claimed had been inspected by gemologists (GIA-certified, I don’t know) while showing them to me in the light. That big one in the middle he claimed is a ruby, all of the others real diamonds by his word. Instead of telling him he was out of his monkey-ass mind if thought he was getting my chain off me, I politely declined and moved on.
This is a sample blend from Beekman’s C.O.P.A. Soaps, a local business selling handmade, no waste soap. A lovely man named Marvin handed this to me and I couldn’t resist buying a brick of their Triple Mint.
Beekman's COPA Soaps - Fine, All Natural Soaps
Here are some handmade ribbons for the Phillies girlies to rock at the next game!
Last is this stuffy that appears to be a mix between a bear, an alien, and a disco-ball? I have never seen no shit like this before.
After I’d perused the entirety of the lot I made my way over to the band that had been soundtracking my browsing. Before playing their last song, the group’s bassist, Bert Harris, introduced themselves as The Afro-Jazz Collective and were performing as part of the Not Just Jazz series in FDR Park. For those of us who couldn't afford to buy anything at the flea, the music was still flowing and free. I heard that there will be another performance, perhaps from a different group, at the park next Tuesday at 6pm right at the same spot. I’ll drop some information about that, as well as their closing number, below.
Not Just Jazz 2026 at FDR Park (Saturday) - Featuring Bert Harris …
