The Crafty Flea Market is a combined fundraising effort by The Daily News’ Newspapers in Education, or NIE, and Lake Antoine Park Partners, or LAPP, that benefits both non-profit programs. NIE provides area schools with newspapers that assist teachers and other educators, while LAPP aims to help beautify the park, most recently working on a playground where “everyone plays.”

This open-air market has become one of the biggest in the U.P. since it began in 2018. The community support for this event has always been outstanding, and much appreciated.

“Wow, when Doni Mae, from Lake Antoine Park Partners, first contacted me in 2018 about holding an event at Lake Antoine Campgrounds as a fundraiser to both of our groups, I said, ‘Sure let’s try it’ but was not sure. Here we are getting ready to hold our eighth-ever Crafty Flea event. What started as an idea of just 15 vendors has grown into a sold-out event every year and 1,000s of people coming through the gate,” said Jennifer Flynn, regional circulation manager at The Daily News.

“We have a little bit of everything for sale, from antiques to up-cycled items, kettle corn to an elephant ear, driftwood to sublimation items. Handmade crafts to direct sale companies, maple syrup to salsa. Come on out and spend the day with us,” Flynn said.

Crystal Hogan and Dawn Kranz will again provide music from site No. 18a, by the old bathhouse, at the Crafty Flea Market on Saturday at Lake Antoine Park and Campground in Iron Mountain. (Jennifer Flynn/Daily News photo)

Some of the merchandise to be available includes handcrafted wood products, handmade soaps, ceramics, antiques, jewelry, knitted and crocheted items, home decor, metal works and wire art, jams, salsa, birdhouses, bird feeders, artworks, honey and maple syrup, along with representatives for direct sales companies such as Tupperware, Avon, Doterra Essential Oils, Pink Zebra; not to mention flea market finds galore.

Also featured are informational booths from Friends of the Braumart, OSF Hospice and Grief Support and Girl Scouts. Crystal Hogan and Dawn Kranz will once again provide music from site No. 18a, by the old bathhouse. Amber Grassinger from the Dickinson-Iron Health Department will have a lactation station at site No. 18b, next to the restrooms. A Crafty Flea and Lake Antoine Park Partners information booth will be on the grounds Saturday in site No. 18.

The interior roads of the campground will become a pedestrian walkway that even handicapped visitors and those with baby strollers can easily maneuver to the booths.

Eric Robinson and the park crew will place benches through the Crafty Flea area so shoppers have a place to rest for a bit before continuing. A volunteer also will be on site with a golf cart to help people, a tradition the late Duane Lundamo started a couple of years ago.

Concessions this year will once again be run by Strong Tower Church, in site 19; this is their seventh year with the event. They will serve hot dogs, chili dogs, brats, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, walking tacos, french fries, chili cheese fries and cheese curds. They will also have cold sodas, water, tea and lemonade.

A complete list of crafters and vendors can be seen in an ad on page 8A of today’s paper. For more information, contact Flynn at 906-774-2772, ext. 218.

The event will go on rain or shine, organizers said.

Admission is a $2 donation per person, with no charge for ages 10 and younger, at the main entrance at N3393 Quinnesec-Lake Antoine Road. The park does have designated parking for the handicapped.