“You are not gonna believe this. I just thrifted this painting, and it’s worth thousands of dollars,” local vintage lover Laura Caldwell gushes in a YouTube video, calling the signed original she found at Rose City Vintage Market “the best thrifted find” of her life. 

The weekend-long event, held this year on July 13th and 14th at the Portland Expo Center, promises one-of-a-kind vintage and antique finds for all shoppers who love the hunt—from the fashionable Portlander perusing racks of concert tees that still hold that decades-old magic, to the aspiring interior designer in search of their next DIY project, to the collector with a discerning eye for curiosities. Are you especially dedicated to nabbing a once-in-a-lifetime find? First Pick tickets, good for both days, offer a three-hour head start.

“What's wonderful is that there's something for everybody,” says Rose City Vintage Market founder Mindy King. “There are people who collect Asian antiques. There are people who collect Disney stuff. There are folks who collect glassware and pyrex. We have a repeat vendor who comes down from Seattle who specializes in Bakelite jewelry. It’s phenomenal.”

King’s connections to industry sellers up and down the West Coast help attract a wide array of vendors that Portlanders might not otherwise come across, including Southern California favorites from her original Palm Springs Vintage Market. Still, Rose City Vintage Market has a distinctly Portland feel, with a special emphasis on modern and cozy lodge-inspired offerings—and a deep well of beloved local sellers.

Portlanders familiar with the city’s vintage scene will see plenty of familiar faces at this year’s market, including Carole Kabot, whose estate jewelry has wowed shoppers since the days of the Christine Palmer Antique Show; Billy Galaxy, West Burnside’s purveyor of delightful vintage toys; and “The Antique Nomad” George Higby, popular YouTube blogger, collector and appraiser.

“This is a way for businesses to get in front of thousands of people that aren’t necessarily going to walk into your shop on a weekend,” King says. “We try to encourage budding vintage sellers looking to build their reputation and establish a following, to join us.”

Rose City Vintage Market isn’t just a place to peruse some of the Western United States’ finest vintage and antique collections—it’s an event in its own right. Timed to take advantage of a sunny July weekend, the indoor-outdoor market offers tastings from local wineries and distilleries, and two days full of unforgettable connections between people with at least this in common: a love of old things.

That community-building element helps set Rose City Vintage Market apart from Portland’s wide array of vintage shopping offerings. Visitors have the unique opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with hundreds of knowledgeable vintage vendors, as well as the chance to learn skills like upholstering and woodworking from them through live demonstrations. With plenty of affordable project items available for sale, these workshops provide an invaluable resource for shoppers who prefer to buy something for a bargain and make it beautiful themselves. Sellers are often experts in their fields and are happy to share their knowledge to both amateur and seasoned collectors alike.

“Even if you don’t have that DIY bug, the Expo Center will also be packed with vintage goods already lovingly restored to their former glory. “What’s beautiful about it is you can find items for $1, you can find items worth $100,000,” King says. “It just depends on what your fancy is.”