LYNN — The Goldfish Pond Association plans to host its annual Fun and Flea Day fundraiser where it brings between 50 and 60 vendors to the pond to sell a variety of goods.
This neighborhood flea market has been running for about 30 years, but took a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which followed water-quality issues in 2019.
This year, vendors can pay $35 to rent a table to set up around the pond from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sept. 11, and $45 if they register on the morning of the event.
As the event will be held on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there will be a ceremony held at the 9/11 memorial on the island in the pond at the start of the day .
Tables are available for anyone to rent, whether it be to sell crafts, get rid of items after spring cleaning or promote a business or politician.
About 30 years ago, Goldfish Pond Association President Trish Greene said she went to the market and the Lynn Historical Society rented a table to display antiques, such as old shoes and gloves, and had pamphlets to show what the organization is all about.
This prompted her to join the society as a recent college graduate, and she has been a member ever since.
“I would even encourage organizations like that to get a table to show what they’re all about,” Greene said. “You never know the type of crowd you’re going to get to your display, whether you’re selling something or just showing.”
This market doesn’t just exist to sell goods; it is also a way to bring the community together. Member of the Goldfish Pond Association Coco Alinsug, a candidate for Ward 3 councilor, said this is a community and neighborhood activity.
“People in the neighborhood look forward to this to volunteer and meet old neighbors,” Alinsug said.
Alinsug said many neighbors who have moved will come back to this market to show their kids where they grew up, where their old house was, and where they spent time.
“There’s a lot of history here in this small area,” Alinsug said. “I am a good example of somebody that is a new transplant to Lynn that assimilated between old neighbors and new neighbors.”
Alinsug said this event always brings kids to help set up the night before, and some of these “kids” are now grown up and have their own kids who, in turn, volunteer for the event.
Greene said this market is like a homecoming for people who have ties to the pond.
“Even current neighbors will come out of their houses and walk around the pond. It’s a good time to just get out,” Greene said.
There is no specific rule for how the vendors can set up. It is a first-come, first-served situation, and Alinsug said the most important part is to be respectful of other vendors and to have fun.
Usually this event would have a bouncy house for the kids, but because of COVID-19, there will be a couple of clowns instead.
There will also be a van from the Lynn Community Health Center offering COVID-19 vaccines.
At the start of this market, when there weren’t many flea markets around, Greene said an old-timer told them it used to bring around 140 vendors to the pond.
This year, Greene said, they think they may get a large crowd of vendors who haven’t been able to sell their goods since the pandemic began.
As the Goldfish Pond Association’s main fundraiser, this event brings in around $3,000 to $5,000, which is the budget for the year. The money goes toward the upkeep of the pond, including flowers, landscaping equipment, trash bags, clean up and more.
The association is advocating for people to practice safe COVID-19 protocols; masks will be provided at the pond.
Interested vendors can sign up at goldfishpond.org.
