So for the first time I attended both Lindsay and Stirling swap meets. Given the distance I'm kind of glad they were on the same weekend!
I hit Lindsay first. Got there around 9:00 a.m. and had seen everything by noon. I would say this is about the same size as Ancaster's April swap meet. But there is definitely a lot more older stuff. Almost everything is "automotive related" - didn't see anyone selling socks or gloves.
I then headed over to Stirling. This is advertised as a "Flea Market" and they take that seriously! About 50% is automotive. There rest is a pile of **** - old furniture, musical instruments, plumbing junk, old woodworking tools, toys ... garage sale stuff !! Size-wise its probably about the size of the March Ancaster swap meet.
However, the weather was great and I got some stuff I wanted. In hindsight probably should have grabbed a couple things that I didn't.
So here's the thing ... if these shows ran on separate weekends (as they usually do) and all the vendors from one tried to go to the other, I don't think either place has enough space for both vendors and spectator parking!
Would I go again? Sure. But it would be one or the other, not both and it would probably be Lindsay simply because of the lack of "****".
I haven't been to Stirling in several years (last time was before the "falling out" of the operators).
I attended Lindsay for my first time and it was GREAT. Not too big, lots of automotive stuff, lots of old stuff .... bought a few things, ran into quite a few peeps I knew, made for a good day.
I can honestly say I have no intention of returning to Stirling, there's just no reason to.
-- Edited by chips on Sunday 1st of May 2016 04:14:49 PM
Got to Lindsay Thur. morning and left Sat. evening before the rain + the furnace was not working. Had a great time seen some of the forum guys drank some beer and sales were great.They are doing a great job at keeping out the yard sale stuff and lots of old stuff. To find a non automotive vender you really had to look. What more can you say what a great job AACA is doing for the past 45 years and keeping their promise about staying automotive.
Nice to see Lindsay went well, we went to Sterling and enjoyed ourselves. Great turnout of vendors and shoppers, saw some friends and some cool stuff.Still not sure why some people see it as a competition, we are all car people, I'm happy that our hobby supports 2 events on the same weekend , just think how each one would do on separate dates.
went to Lindsay...got the majority of what we were looking for ,,,all at great prices,,,people were friendly, and willing to negotiate which makes it better
Will never go to Lindsay. I have been a Stirling supporter for years and will always be a Stirling supporter . I have made life long friendships at Sterling and that is more important to me than a few car parts.
-- Edited by workin class on Tuesday 10th of May 2016 06:42:01 PM
-- Edited by workin class on Tuesday 10th of May 2016 06:42:34 PM
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I just hope they have it on different weekends next time.
I was going to do Lindsay on Sat, and Sterling on Sun, but Sunday turned out ****ty, so I only made Lindsay.
I think there is plenty of room to support both, and lots of people that would go to both if they were on separate weekends.
I don't know the history/politics behind the whole deal and I don't care to.
I am just there for a good time, meet some good people, find some good parts.
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Went to Lindsay this year with the intent of going for the last time as a vender with old age setting in. We decided last night over a cold one to take one more kick at the can. Seeing I sold a car again this year and the parts business was extremely good also. I phoned this morning to see if my spots were still available and he said I was lucky seeing they set a new record for reregistration this year. Plus a few new automotive venders phoned for availability for next year coming from the east. I was also told they set another new record also for attendance in spite of the rain Sun.
AACA has done a phenomenal job getting Lindsay off the ground. Keeping their promise as AUTOMOTIVE ONLY as you can tell by the other posters writings. But after 45 years of hosting swap meets I think they know what the car guys want. Lindsay changed their date this year but going back to the original date next year seeing how things worked out this year.
You know the saying IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME
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We had a good sales on Sat. but Friday was cold & windy setting up, & I caught one hellva a Cold, still suffering!!! One of the pictures shows our lot with the 2 Gord's sitting in front of another friends 48 Thames Panel truck, which he sold the following week, after the meet. Have to agree that the 2 should be on separate wknd. but the "PI$$ING contest goes on so guess we have to live with it??
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When ACCA was holding the swap meet at Stirling, there was a lack of good parking and the city was handing out parking tickets to those parking on the side streets. ACCA decided this was an untenable situation and went looking for a better location. They relocated to the Lindsay fair grounds where they had more then enough parking and have operated the swap meet there as an almost pure auto parts only for the past several years. The fair ground board in Sterling decided to operate their own swap meet and have been quite liberal as to who they let in. There never was a split of ownership, just a split of tenant and landlord. Why the Stirling fair ground management decided to have their meet on the same weekend is a mystery. I talked to several ACCA members after Lindsay and they said traffic was great and sales were brisk and Sunday's weather sucked.
When ACCA was holding the swap meet at Stirling, there was a lack of good parking and the city was handing out parking tickets to those parking on the side streets. ACCA decided this was an untenable situation and went looking for a better location. They relocated to the Lindsay fair grounds where they had more then enough parking and have operated the swap meet there as an almost pure auto parts only for the past several years. The fair ground board in Sterling decided to operate their own swap meet and have been quite liberal as to who they let in. There never was a split of ownership, just a split of tenant and landlord. Why the Stirling fair ground management decided to have their meet on the same weekend is a mystery. I talked to several ACCA members after Lindsay and they said traffic was great and sales were brisk and Sunday's weather sucked.
You are correct on what happened with AACA leaving Stirling. But it was Stirling Agr. Society that would not GUARANTEE ADEQUATE PARKING for any future events forcing AACA to move that people have a hard time grasping. I do not think AACA seen this coming or they would not have built the new office building out of their own pockets that Stirling Agi. now uses.
-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Monday 16th of May 2016 10:19:34 AM
-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Monday 16th of May 2016 10:34:47 PM
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