Event Coverage Des Moines, Iowa state fairgrounds swap meet?

Is the State Fairgrounds swap meet happening this year? I can't find any relevant information. I found only 1 web page mentioning 2022 and it claimed the swap meet was last Sunday(May 1). I don't recall it ever being on Sunday... also the aforementioned web page looks like one of those "we'll post some likely incorrect info just to get you to our page and then maybe you'll click on the unrelated crap links".

 

last fall's swap they annouced over the pa system that this would be the last and it was for sale. i assume the contract with the fairgrounds was what was for sale. it's hard to believe a capital city of iowa has no swapmeet truly times are a changing

 

You might try alchemy hear on the hamb, he is up to speed on most happenings in the area, I too have been there not sure if it is going on tomorrow or not.

 

Well, that just sucks. I wonder if there are any plans for a swap at a new location?

I can't remember for sure. Hawkeye Downs hasn't had one either since the derecho, have they?

 

The Hawkeye Downs swapmeet is now at the Linn County fairgrounds in Central City. It's Saturday the 7th, see attached flier

 

be sure to take pics at any swap/show that you go to and share here

 

Is this the first year at the new location? If not, is the turnout similar to when it was in Cedar Rapids?

 

May 6-8th. Lawrence Kansas, 56th annual swapmeet. www.lawrenceregionaaca.com Douglas County fairgrounds.

 

seem's it's been awhile since you been to a swap meet, a year or so ago might have been the last swap at hawkeye downs i went in the spring the vendors were so few in numbers the track was closed there might have been a couple dozen vendors around the buildings. took all of ten- fifteen minutes to see

 

They had at least one last year. As I recall the weather wasn't great. A buddy of mine sold there and said he did well.

If you're thinking of Hawkeye Downs at it's peak you'll probably be disappointed.

 

I went to Central City last year. Got there early afternoon, not many venders, half of them were already packing up and leaving. Don't think I'll go back.

 

Last I heard from a reliable source, the DSM swap didn’t find a new owner.

We attended the Central City swap last fall and will be going again on Saturday. Even a small swap is better than none. If I was home I’d probably have yard work I’d be doing.

And, if you can’t arrive at a swap meet till afternoon, you might as well stay home and do that yard work. Swap meets start at sunrise.

 

Oh, wow!
Yeah, the only one I attended regularly was the State Fairgrounds because it was close so I didn't have to plan for it, just went when I had a little free time.
I hadn't been to Hawkeye Downs since probably '16 or so.

 

I wonder if any of the local people selling car parts will try flea markets as an alternative since the State Fairgrounds swap is gone?

 

speaking of small swaps that one out at the marshall co. fairgrounds that was in the winter was always a great swapmeet one of my favorites, what ever happened to it, i can still smell them donuts cooking

 

A dozen years ago I had a call from a member of the restorers club that put the Marshalltown swap meet on. He asked me if I wanted to take it over, as the club members were getting too old and couldn't handle it any more. He had already asked a local street rod club. I told him I couldn't handle it by myself, and didn't have enough friends who would be able to help. So it is no more.

 

Hear hear, Corncopcoupe! I'm all for it. But do be aware that guys who come for car shows aren't serious shoppers (no truck to put the greasy parts in), and guys who come for swap meets aren't there for the show (they are already covered in grease).

 

i agree 100% with everything you are saying, but i find it ironic that as a moderator you are saying exactly the opposite of what this site is doing, heck when a car is banned because of a tire choice, going run a lotta people off. wether we like it or not a changin of the guard is happening. remember a few years ago when some one started a weekly car show down at the fairgrounds and it wasn't long before the trouble makers ruined it,

 

Eastern Iowa seems to have a good supply of swap meets now. Last weekend we went to the Monticello swap, which was held the same weekend as the Torquefest show/swap. This weekend we will go to the Central City swap. And the 15th there is one in Waterloo.

Not sure why central Iowa can't keep one going?

 

Titus and the crew in the Cities had their own, albeit small, swap meets during Covid. It seemed like they were more of just a group of guys showing up and having a "garage sale". No fees, no services, no plotted out space requirements, minimal effort. Simply show up and do your thing. Maybe that's the way to start something going again in DSM. Just finding the place to do it would be the tough part.

 

At Corncob's house!

 

Sounds like what Carl and the Cheater’s Car Club are doing in Milwaukee!

 

The problem is most people don't speak I O wegan, so there is a language barrier to making swap deals. You need a translator with you at all times.

 

It's OK, if someone from the south comes up we can talk slower. Or if someone from the nort comes down, we can use simpler words.