Locals who are on the lookout for vintage finds like furniture, jewelry -- and even coasters made of scrap wood from the Toronto Islands -- should explore flea markets in and around the city.

Online boutique co-owner Gelaine Santiago said flea markets are a great way to get the word out for local Toronto products. She said her store, Cambio Market, sells “ethically sourced, fair trade” items, like coasters made by designer Jennifer Rong “from logs that have fallen in Toronto Islands.”

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Cambio Market co-owner Jérôme Gagnon-Voyer poses with products at the Parkdale Flea Market this year. (Gelaine Santiago)

This summer, check out Toronto’s flea markets:

Gladstone Flea Market

1214 Queen Street W., Toronto

July 10, August 14, September 11

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Special Bunz flea market at Gladstone Hotel: October 6

Gladstone has trendy favourites, like tiny succulents and candles in mason jars -- although it varies for each visit.

Trinity Bellwoods Flea Market

824 Dundas Street W., Toronto

July 16, August 20, September 17

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Trinity Bellwoods carries a wide range of products, from vegan soaps to floral, vintage plates with modern phrases printed on, like “Don’t panic” or “I don’t give a hoot.”

St. Lawrence Market

92-95 Front Street E., Toronto

Farmers market, Saturdays, 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Antique market, Sundays, dawn to 5 p.m.

The St. Lawrence Market, a Toronto favourite, has fresh food, an antique market and a gallery where the city’s Council Chambers used to be. Vendors at St. Lawrence’s antique market sell books, photographs, clothing, signs, cameras and more. Unique pieces include old car parts, typewriters and vintage padlocks.

Leslieville Flea Market

1444 Queen Street E., Toronto

July 17, August 21, September 18

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents hoping to spend their Sunday outdoors, instead of mostly indoors at St. Lawrence, can opt for the Leslieville Flea Market at the historic Ashbridge Estate. Co-founder and organizer Christine Roberts said her and fellow co-founder Brigid Elmy love the “park feel” and greenery at the estate.

Roberts said the Leslieville Flea Market carries mainly vintage fashion and decor. She said she loves that the estate itself is also vintage. (The oldest home on the site was built in 1854.)

The market focuses on upcycled, vintage and salvaged goods. One vendor repurposes old Ontario licence plates as bracelets. Another sells flower-inspired gift boxes, with soaps, heirloom seeds, greeting cards and tea.

Parkdale Flea Market

1266 Queen Street W., Toronto

July 10, August 14, September 11

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For those looking for collectables, try the Parkdale Flea Market. They feature a vendor who specializes in “hand-picked Toronto treasures” like a Blue Jays World Series Champion sweater from the 1990s and another who sells limited batches of hand-made preserves and marmalades in dozens of flavours.

Aberfoyle Antique Market

57 Brock Road S., Guelph

Every Sunday until Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Special market: Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Flea markets outside the city can also be worth the drive for less pricey pieces, according to antique lover and jewelry curator Robby Spring. She said Aberfoyle Antique Market, just south of Guelph, is one of her favourites.

“They have absolutely everything,” she said. “Jewelry, furniture, crystal wear, Victorian porcelain, bug collections with bugs in glass cases, records.”

The Aberfoyle Antique Market is also opened on Saturdays twice a year -- once in May, once in September. The upcoming Saturday market will feature more than 90 guest dealers who will be joining the regular vendors.

Christie Antique Market

1000 Highway 5 W, Christie Lake Conservation Area

Saturday, Sept. 10, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spring said she also enjoys the Christie Antique Market, about an hour's drive outside of Toronto near the Christie Lake Conservation Area. It’s a huge green space on a field with vendors spread over 10 acres of land. Spring’s most recent finds from the Christie market included a silver, Victorian belt buckle bracelet.

Tips for flea market first-timers:

Go late. Spring said, “If you’re looking for something particular and rare, like if you’re an antique dealer, go in the morning.” But for those looking for a good deal, go late. “For me,” she said, “even though I do buy antique jewelry for my website, I think you get the best deals at the end of the day. (Vendors) don’t want to pack up as much stuff, so they’re willing to negotiate more just to sell more stuff before they leave.”

Don’t be scared to haggle. Spring said, “The price is never the price. You can always negotiate.”

Better prices, longer trek. Spring said vendors selling in the City of Toronto have to pay a higher fee to bring their products in -- which means prices will be higher downtown than in areas outside the city. “If you can drive,” she said, “it’s worth it.”