VENTURE: Off to Market in Orange County

Live musical artists, like "Bobby McGee," strum along at the market. (Photo by Chelsea Johnson)

By Chelsea Johnson, staff writer |English major

This swap meet has everything. Well, maybe not everything.  But if you are looking for popcorn, pickles, crafts, and kitchen supplies—or even a grey-haired man singing “Bobby McGee” and strumming his acoustic guitar—The Orange County Market Place in Costa Mesa is the place for you.

Every Saturday and Sunday, Orange County holds a massive swap meet filled with booths selling everything from art to body jewelry. There’s even tiki torches and multi-flavored pickles.

Two Collide reporters made the trek to Costa Mesa in search of an adventure.  Luckily for us, this weekend the Orange County Market Place commemorated National Popcorn Day with free popcorn and the attendance of Poppy the Corn, a popcorn-bucket-wearing damsel on stilts.

Even if popcorn isn’t your thing, there is a little something for everyone. Several booths feature brand name items, crafts, various ethnic foods, and even home goods.

Gaylin Moses and her daughter Megan go to the Market Place about once a month. Her favorite part? “The tacos and the beer,” said Moses. “Oh, and the beef jerky.”

She also mentioned that the fresh produce keeps her coming back. One stand offers fresh large avocados for 75 cents a piece in addition to whole clusters of asparagus for $1.99 each.

Among rows upon rows of treasure-filled tents lies a special hidden treasure: Pickle on a Stick. Although they’ve abandoned the stick and adopted a small baggie to capture juice, the pickles have maintained their charm. Pickle On A Stick owner Kim Crossley explained that the stand has been there for over 40 years.

The friendly crowd keeps Crossley coming back. Her favorite part is talking to the fair’s visitors.

“It’s friendly people,” Crossley said. “You’re outside, and you’re in the sun.”

If you’re a foodie, then I challenge you to try their tear-enducing, flavor-packed hot pickle. In addition to their excellent pickles, they also offer fresh pumpkin seeds, almonds, wasabi peas, stuffed olives, yogurt-dipped pretzels, and other tasty treats. We snagged a bag of the pumpkin seeds. Needless to say, they didn’t last long.

After getting your fill of pickles and frozen, chocolate-dipped bananas (there is a stand dedicated solely to these treats), book-lovers will be pleased to find several used book tents. Books start at just a buck. And with the ocean breeze and a cold lemonade, what do you have to lose?

Treasures we walked away with: Four books (“To Kill A Mockingbird,” “The Zoo Keeper’s Wife,” “For One More Day,” and “The O. Henry Prize Stories”); two nail polishes; a pickle; three avocado tamales; a frozen, chocolate-dipped banana; pumpkin seeds; a hair flower; sticky notes; a vintage T-shirt; and a nose ring.

The Market is open every Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm at the OC Fair & Events Center.

'Pickle On a Stick' is a delicacy from this market's foodie excursions. (Photo by Chelsea Johnson)