Featured Photo: Welcome Home Sign Company
West Philly Bizarre Market Photos: SarahLockard.com
artisan market held on select Saturdays in Clark Park. We are big fans!
Crocheted geodes in sherbert colors. An oversized blue buddha candle. Vintage doll clothes. A sustainable clothes swap. Barrels of $5 pre-owned jewelry. A mid-century modern serving platter. Vintage Disney Tigger buttons. A shiny, oversized equestrian table sculpture. CDs, records and DVDs–galore. A woman dressed head to toe in red and black with a coordinating summer parasol. And waves of purposeful patchouli incense flying through the warm summer air. What am I referring to?
As I said in my recent Instagram reel, with a cheeky nod to the New Zealand pop group OMC, How Bizarre, How Bizarre.
The West Philly Bizarre is a bold, indie, bright and badass-ly unpredictable artisans market held on select Saturdays in West Philly’s 9-acre, lush Clark Park. With over 200 local vendors in rotation, shoppers are promised to find unique creations, outstanding market fashion by the hippie and boldly diverse University Crowd, and very unusual crafts and curations each and every visit. Let’s just say there’s no Lilly Pulitzer sundresses or Jane Win socially-stacked girlies here. Ha!
The Bizarre is a mission based nonprofit. It was created in February of 2024 out of a long-standing tradition of vendors setting up shop on their own at Clark Park to sell crafts in an unorganized and random fashion — a neighborhood tradition that goes back several decades. The organizers saw a need to form a more structured business model (for the vendors and community) and thus the market was born. As a shopper and visitor of Clark Park for almost two decades personally, I applaud and appreciate the efforts being made to drive and sustain small businesses there. For years, I witnessed underserved culture creators, artists and makers shop their wares on random tables and sidewalks throughout the park with no structure–and no website or social media of course to support their one-man band efforts. And it always made me sad to witness them work hard and struggle with tables of beautiful handmade items, collectibles, clothes and more. Well, it is a new day for these valued makers for sure!
In addition, I honestly only discovered the Bizarre about a month ago. And, I go to the Clark Park Farmers Market very regularly! How did I miss this? Well, very easily and you could too so listen up. There are no signs at all at the farmers market that this is going on directly across the street (but trust me on the scheduled days it is). I highly recommend a Saturday where you start out shopping at the Clark Park Farmers Market and then waltz over to the Bizarre. Don’t forget your hot $1.50 apple cider donuts either. Too good to pass up no matter what the weather or season-and the perfect fuel you need for a great afternoon in a revitalized and energized West Philly.
Maybe I will see you there this summer! The West Philly Bizarre—an AML must.
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Gobs of Good “West Philly Bizarre” Markets to Go
Every Saturday in July there is a market–including Fourth of July!
15 more markets after the June 27th market thru November 7th!
Halloween-season markets promise to be magnificently macabre, creepy and cool!
**Final** June West Philly Bizarre Market
When: Saturday, June 27th
Time: 10am-3pm
Where: Clark Park, West Philadelphia (on the other side of the park where the Farmer’s Market is staged/cross the street)
Cost: Free to roam and shop
Weather Policy: Rain or Shine (there are no rain dates)
Seasonal Vendors in Rotation: Over 200
Website: https://westphillybizarre.com/
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More Information
The West Philly Bizarre market operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, fiscally sponsored by CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia, and frequently partners with organizations like the University City District to activate vacant storefronts in the neighborhood.
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