Last Updated on July 16, 2026
I entered the gate early, greeted by the morning mist and the pleasant waft of jerk chicken and gyro meat being prepared by nearby food trucks. It had rained for several days before and the ground was heavy with moisture.
Vendors were set up in the meadow with their wares sprawled out in and around their individual tents. Some were craftsmen displaying their creations. Most were antique and vintage dealers. The muted sounds of discourse among themselves and with customers created a lulling backdrop of white noise. There were already many people in attendance.
My sister and I had just arrived at the Vintage Market in the Mountains, held on the grounds of the Wayside Inn in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. This event is part of a series of traveling antique shows organized by Brimfield Antique Shows, LLC. These are the same people responsible for the famous antique show and market that takes place three times per year in Brimfield, Massachusetts.
Although longstanding devotees of the Brimfield shows, this was our first time at the Vintage Market. The traveling shows are smaller, more intimate experiences. They feature local entertainment and food trucks. A bit less crowded, they offer a greater opportunity to converse with the vendors.
This opportunity – along with the actual ability to touch and inspect the objects displayed – is a draw for those who frequent antique and vintage fairs, markets and shows. As is the element of surprise. Unlike on-line shopping, we can’t accurately predict what we might find or simply type in what we are looking for and make it appear. We need to put in some effort and be open to flights of fancy. Who knows what may catch our eye? This treasure-hunting excitement is what drives many antique shoppers.
Vintage and antique items are fun to own because they are unique. They add interest and individuality to your home and self. They also spark conversations – as to the pieces themselves, their history and how they were acquired.
The Finds and Stories
Early in the day I spotted an old chair. I’m partial to chairs for some unknown reason. I gravitate towards them like others gravitate towards puppies. This chair needed a lot of love, and I jokingly asked my sister if I should buy it for our camp on the lake. To my surprise, she said “yes.”
I approached the chair to give it a better look and saw they were asking a whopping $20.00 for it. Completely ignoring the mandatory, New England haggling custom, I found the seller and gave her the $20.00. She looked more surprised than me. I had one condition: they had to keep the cushions.
We continued walking about throughout the morning and, by-and-by, I would see that same seller lugging around another piece of furniture, seeming coming from the direction of the Wayside Inn. As I passed her at one point, I jokingly asked if she was stealing furniture from the inn to sell. She told me matter-of-factly that she owned the inn and that yes, the furniture was actually coming from the basement from past inn use.
As it turned out, my chair had been used in the foyer of the historic inn for many years. Since my item now has provenance, I think its value just went up.
About the Wayside Inn
Sarah Levy purchased the The Wayside Inn in 2017. Shortly after taking ownership, she partnered with Brimfield Antique Shows to host the Vintage Market In The Mountains which takes place each June, with 2026 marking its 5th year. The market draws an average of 8,000 attendees.
The Inn is a convenient and pleasant place to stay for those interested in the Vintage Market and it is not unusual for rooms to fill up during this time. Throughout the year, the inn draws those looking to relax in a quite country setting while being conveniently close to all the activities of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.
Another Unique Antique Find
My other purchase was an antique travel publication advertising the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. It was buried beneath other ephemera in a box among the many antiques offered by Tyler Phelps of Dustan Patina. Phelps is an antique dealer out of Manchester, New Hampshire. He obtains most of his items from estate liquidations in the greater Manchester and surrounding areas.
Antique dealing is something his been doing for years and – from observing how he engages with his customers – it’s something he truly enjoys. Within just a few minutes, I saw him discussing the virtues of vintage clothing, explaining the restrictions regarding items made of ivory, and answering questions and pointing out nuances of some antique toys.
The travel publication was a serendipitous find. Though undated, it looks to be from the 1930s. I was going to soon be visiting the Lakes Region of New Hampshire for a guide I have been asked to write and was interested in seeing what this historical publication had to say about the area. What attractions remain the same? What has changed?
The rest of our Vintage Market in the Mountains visit was spent leisurely strolling, window shopping, and enjoying the folk music from Sweetbloods. And of course, we had some of that great smelling food from the food trucks, including the jerk chicken.
Bethlehem Beyond The Vintage Market
Bethlehem, New Hampshire is a wonderful place to visit apart from the Vintage Market in the Mountains. The quality and quantity of its independent shops and eateries compared to the quaint size of its Main Street business area takes visitors by surprise. It boasts two antique stores that are equally attractive to collectors, but couldn’t be more different in offerings or presentation.
Lonesome Woods, located at 2165 Main Street, displays antique hiking, camping, and other outdoor activity items in a museum-like manner. Of particular interest is the impressive collection of authentic White Mountain National Forest and AMC historical signage. Interspersed among the antiques are Lonesome Woods candles, soaps and scents, new wool blankets and books. The staging is impeccable.
Chris Curran and Jerry Antiques, located at 2560 Main Street, is a barn and loft that is bursting at the seams with all manner of antiques and vintage items. Every inch competes for your attention with floor-to-ceiling shelves chock-full of housewares, seasonal decorations, lamps, tables, baskets and more. As you precariously wind your way through isles of stuff you notice that not even the ceiling itself has been spared as a display area. It’s a treasure trove for antique pirates.
The joy of antiquing goes far beyond the shopping itself. It’s the anticipation, the find, conversing with other, like-minding shoppers and the stories that flow from the item and the experience.
