Labor Day brings extra visitors to Shipshewana

The heat did not stop over 10,000 people from visiting the Shipshewana Flea Market Monday.

The flea market is typically only open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but it was open on Labor day for extended holiday hours.

“Labor day is typically the biggest of the three extended markets that we have,” says Michael Christner, Shipshewana Flea Market Manager.

Extended holiday hours are held on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.

Christner says a typical Tuesday-Wednesday business week at the market will attract about 12,000 people over the two days, but Labor Day can help double the business.

“Generally between 10,000 to 12,000 people on Labor day,” Christner said.

Veteran vendor George Borum who has worked at the Shipshewana Flea Market for 26 years says Labor day is busy.

“We do better on the holidays because we have people out here who have real jobs and they get a day off and we are glad to have them by golly,” says Borum.

Ashley Davis from Kalamazoo County, Michigan, typically works Mondays. When asked if driving over an hour on her day off was worth it, she responded quickly.

“Oh, heck yea, we love coming here,” Davis said.

Labor Day is one of the only chances Davis has to make the trip to Shipshewana and she takes full advantage of the town.

“We go to Yoder’s. We go to E&S. We usually go to the Cheese Factory and then we usually go to Essenhaus,” says Davis. 

Yoder’s Meat & Cheese Company is next to the Flea Market and their parking lot was also packed.

“That’s a highlight of each summer is all the holidays so we usually try to have a large quantity of product that is available for all the extra people that come into town,” says Herald Yoder of Yoder’s Meat & Cheese Company.

There are four weeks left for the flea market.

There will also be extended hours September 29 - October 3. They will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.