Hi, has anyone gone to the Red Deer Swap meet in Alberta? What about the Penticton, BC swap meet. I live in Montana and I always needed an excuse to go to Canada but wondered how big the swap meets are. How do either of those compare in size to Spokane, Washington swap meet. Is it worth a 700 mile one way trip. thanks, ryan
Have never been to the other swap meet you mention so have no idea how to make a comparison. I myself think the Red Deer swap meets are good, the best one is the first weekend in May. Not sure how I could tell you yes or no on the 700 mile drive, except to say you would have to make up your own mind on that one.
I live in Vancouver BC. Swap meets here in the Vancouver area I think are marginal at best. I have not even heard anyone talk of the Penticton swap meet, and its not that far away. I go south to Monroe Washington, spring or fall, or further south to Portland. If you go I would like to hear about it.
There are 2 in the spring in red deer, the second one in May? is better, it´s is pretty good IMHO. Bigger than Great Falls by a long shot and much smaller thank spokane.
I went to both the Red Deer swap meet in May and the Spokane swap meet last year and found them both worthwhile shows. The Spokane show is larger but I found I spent about the same amount of cash at each, which tells me I get as much value out of each show. Like I always say... it doesn't matter how large the show is. There could be only one vendor, but if he has everything you were looking for at a good price, the show was worth the trip.
i live in red deer and go to the swap meets, and even had a table at one once, for the most part all the people are nice but theres the usual ridiculously over priced junk
Some pics from 2 years ago http://www.canadianrodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3510&highlight=deer+swap+meet
i go to penticton every year...if you are anti-social you can walk the whole thing in about an hour, i've never left empty handed. would i drive 1400 miles ?....no
I usually go to Penticton, but I sometimes question the 1.5 hour drive it takes me. I have been to Red Deer once and it was not too bad. It is no Portland. If I was you I might go to Red Deer, but I would not go to Penticton.
I would have to agree. Marginal is being kind. I would think the Red Deer one probably has more HAMB potential, still a fair amount of tin in Alberta, relative to the greater Vancouver area anyway.
The Red Deer one is bigger than the Lethbridge one but further away. Not sure if you will find any screaming deals with the Canadian dollar being worth roughly the same as the US but always interesting stuff around. Lethbridge 2010 pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157623309641793/
Hi Ryan,,, Like many others here..Ive been to Red Deer Swap meets.. George is pretty acurate on what he says.. the Spring one is Good.. it all depends on what your after..
Thanks, great response to my question. I talked to a guy at the Great falls swap meet in Montana that said there was a huge swap meet in Canada somewhere. I wondered what he was talking about and I should have asked more ?s. I'm not sure I can get my passport stuff worked out in Time for Lethbridge so looks like Red Deer is best. We have gotton alot of snow this winter in Dillon. The old timers say this is the snowiest year in the last 20. Maybe Lethbridge will be snowed out in a month anyway. thanks again to everyone that responded. Interesting stuff.
I always go to the May Red Deer, I go on the Friday afternoon when it starts and stay usually till close. Some stuff rolls in Sat am so if I can stay overnight I will and go Sat Am. I walk the place over at least 4 times and usually find something each round. I've never left empty handed and I'm pretty frugal about what I spend. I have found AWESOME deals there. There are 3 buildings (connected) full of stuff. <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&ll=52.227405,-113.806912&spn=0.002734,0.006856&z=17&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View Larger Map</small>
I wouldn't worry about Lethbridge being snowed out - its a pretty mild climate as far as snow volume goes.
True, but I've been every year for the last 5 and it's been icy and shitty every time. I'm about 4 hours away and always go down the night before so I don't have to strike out in crappy weather at 4 am.
I go to Red Deer every year, and it can be hit or miss, it really depends on what you are looking for. This year I am going down in my 36 GMC, should be fun! Drop me a line if you do decide to come up!
Red deer is a good swap, real traditional. I bought a running '30 model a coupe from last years, the price was fair. Can't wait for this years.
Also talk to Bill Boomer Flathead builder if your looking for a good priced rebuild short block stroker.
There are always good deals if you look hard enough. I recomend Lethbridge, it isn't as far for you, it is good for a small one. If that one suits you, the May meet is about 2-3X bigger. Red Deer in the beginning of May, is probably the biggest in western Canada. Many vendors from B.C. and Saskatchewan. There are usually three large buildings for indoor shopping and it gets bigger when the weather is nice and the outdoor vendors become plentiful. The March swap at the same location is mostly newer Muscle car stuff although if you find the older stuff you can sometimes get a better price. The Quick Times club that puts this one on, also puts a fall version together in October. I find that smaller meets give more time for digging and you are not rushed to get to see it all. Though not everything is about the parts you find, some of it is the people you meet, or the leads you may develope. Just my 2 sense. If you come up for May stop in for a garage tour I'm on the way.
Haha Yea that's the one, 8 months to work a price and to get it home from Saskatoon. luckily Bill had a trailer and offered to drop it off. The coupe is now fender-less and hood-less, and I've been able to get it to fire.
Red Deer has three swaps, two in the Spring and one in the Fall. The early spring one and the fall one are run by the quick times publication. Over priced to get in, like 8 bucks and parking is 3 bucks. They have a tendancy to be more muscle car parts, some old tin and household stuff is creeping in. Of the two, the spring one is better. both are one day events only. pics from the quick times spring and fall http://canadianrodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6301 http://canadianrodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8275 The late spring one, beginning of May this year is the larger of the three, usually a good mix, cost is 2 bucks to get in but the parking is still 3 bucks. Its a combined show now, sharons antiques use to be in its own building. this is a day and half event. pics from last year http://canadianrodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6707 The Lethbrigde swap in February is growing and has a good mix but no where near the Red Deer ones. pics from last years http://canadianrodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5996 However, they all pale in comparison to the October Munroe WA swap.
Red Deer is a good swap - I'll be there with a bunch of '32 Ford and '33-'42 Willys stuff there - I'll be outside though, selling off a trailer in the corral area as all the spots inside were sold out. Steve
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