“Let’s root for each other and watch each other grow.” That motto of the Small Town Dreamers Market seems fitting with many specialized vendor fairs and small-town outdoor markets. The vendor fairs bring together like-minded people to share their passions and buy and sell their goods. Small town markets are outlets for local farmers and artisans to sell their products, making the markets some of the best ways to keep your purchases local, and put a face to an online business name.
Bloom Spring Vendors Market
Shop a curated selection of local artisans, crafters and vendors offering unique, handmade goods.
Admission is free and food, coffee and cocktails will be available from Wm. Van’s Cafe and Trish & Mary’s Pub, so you can dine and sip while you shop.
Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, March 23, 12-3 p.m., 107 W. Cook St., 217-679-3287. Free admission.
Midwest Toy and Comic Fest
Billed as “the ultimate celebration of nerd and pop culture,” more than 100 vendor booths will be filled with games, anime, comics, toys and memorabilia. Visitors can take part in the silent charity auction, costume contest, video game contest, live celebrity panels and a featured Cosplay Corner.
On Sunday, all events will be geared toward families and children, and those ages 13 and under will be admitted free with an adult.
Perhaps one of the biggest draws of the fest are the celebrity guests. This year’s event will include the voice actors of popular cartoon characters such as Squidward Tentacles from SpongeBob SquarePants (Roger Bumpass) and Ed from Ed, Edd n Eddy (Matt Hill).
Visitors can also meet Bill Morrison, an American comic book artist, writer and editor, game artist Paul E. Niemeyer, Garrett Sanders, creator of the Monster High and Ever After High toy lines and radio personality Tattoo Babii.
Admission is $5, parking is free, and food trucks will be onsite.
Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Building, 217-622-5448
Old Capitol Farmers Market
Springfield’s longest-running market, and the largest producer-only market in Illinois outside of Chicago, continues through April. Here you will find baked goods, meat, produce, crafts, houseware and more. The popular market is held indoors at Union Station during the winter months and will move back outdoors in May.
March 22, April 5 and April 19, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., Union Square Park, 541 E. Jefferson St. Free admission.
Spring Lawn and Garden Sale
A perennial favorite in the Springfield area. Not only will you find a variety of plants and flowers from AB Hatchery & Garden Center of Bloomington, Greenview Garden Center and Williamsville FFA greenhouse, but you will also find garden art, supplies, grills, mowers, decks and landscape supplies. Watch for pop-up markets with more local vendors.
Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Building, 217-528-3033. Free admission.
Trading Hands Kids Sale
You will find thousands of high-quality, gently used items for newborns to teens and more at this three-day consignment sale. Look for spring and summer clothes and shoes, toys, baby gear and nursery items, sports gear, books and furniture.
Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Orr Building. Free admission.
Small Town Dreamers Market
While the market started with a handful of vendors in 2020, it has grown to include boutique items, home goods, baked and cottage foods, house plants, textiles, antiques and crafted jewelry. A few direct sale vendors, such as Scentsy, Paper Pie and Red Aspen, will also be onsite.
The market also provides a great opportunity for local nonprofits to promote their causes. Expect to see representatives from the Raymond Dog Park, Farmersville Revitalization Committee, Knights of Columbus and others. Enjoy live music in the park and find plenty of good food.
April 12, May 10, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 516 Elevator St., Farmersville, 217-710-6262. Free admission.
Spring Market
Vendors will be set up in the Brinkerhoff Mansion and in Becker Library. Boutique trucks will be outside with the food trucks, along with places to sit to eat and enjoy live music, weather permitting. A few direct sales vendors such as JBloom, PaperPie and Pampered Chef will also be there.
All of the proceeds will go toward the maintenance, restoration and preservation of the Brinkerhoff Mansion as well as the music conservatory of the former Ursuline Academy, and representatives from Ursuline Alumni will be there to promote projects on campus.
Admission is $3 (ages 13 and under are free). Parking is along Fifth Street and at the campus parking lot Sixth and Keyes streets.
April 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Brinkerhoff Mansion, 1500 N. Fifth St., 217- 361-5555.
Virden 4th Sunday Market
This is the third year for the market, and it continues to grow. According to organizers, anything goes at the market – antiques and collectibles, crafts and flea market items, coins, baseball cards and movie posters – you name it, they will have it. Some direct sales vendors, such as Scentsy and Tupperware, will also be set up.
In all, more than 60 vendor booths will be both inside and outside, and it is a rain-or-shine event.
April 27, June 22, August 24 and Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Virden Knights of Columbus Hall, 1320 N. Dye St., Virden, 217-891-6514. Free admission.
Litchfield Pickers Market
The downtown Litchfield market, which received the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau’s 2024 Best Festival Award, attracts visitors from as far as 200 miles away for this destination event.
As a juried antique sale, the vendors are under contract to only sell merchandise manufactured prior to 1985, and antique jurors peruse the vendors’ items to ensure that standard of quality is maintained.
Artisan and farmers market vendors are on Monroe Street exclusively and sell textiles, cottage food and baked goods, local produce and honey, handmade jewelry, crafted wood products and furniture, and boutique clothing.
Listen to live music in Carnegie Park all day and find street food at almost every corner in the market area.
May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14 and Oct. 12, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., 400 N. State Street, Litchfield, 217-324-8147. Free admission.
Illinois Product Farmers Market
Find fresh, local and all-Illinois products every Thursday afternoon. The market is part of the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Illinois Product Logo Program, which promotes buying local as “a commitment to supporting Illinois communities and economy.”
Celebrate opening day on May 15 with over 30 Illinois vendors who will feature farm-fresh produce with local meats, handmade goods and specialty treats. Then, sip on Illinois wine and craft beer, try delicious bites from local favorites and enjoy live music, prizes and giveaways, such as tickets to Illinois State Fair events and gift baskets.
Family activities are free, and the kids can get their faces painted and join in games and tie-dye crafts.
Every Thursday, 3:30-7 p.m., Illinois State Fairgrounds, The Shed (enter through Gate 3), 217-558-0788. Free admission.
Springfield Comic & Toy Show
Vendors, artists and visitors will be packing the venue where you will find tournaments, a cosplay showcase and random drawings throughout the day. It will also be the perfect opportunity to get your hands on vintage video games, Pokémon, art, action figures, posters, comic books, Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars paraphernalia and more.
June 8, Crowne Plaza, 3000 South Dirksen Parkway.
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This article appears in Spring Guide 2025.
