Hundreds of shoppers browse the diverse wares at the Khyber Night Flea Market. (Photo: Iris Estrada)

Iris Estrada

iris.estrada1@gmail.com

Every weekend people fight the urge to sleep in, and instead scope out the fun and bizarre booths at their local flea market. For others, while second-hand may be their first choice, no alarm clock can buzz them out of bed.

Market-goers on Nov. 26 traded their morning coffee for an evening drink to browse goodies at the third instalment of the Khyber Night Flea Market.

The Korean-inspired bazaar featured merchants selling everything from antique accessories to haircuts and manicures, handmade jewellery, local food and quirky and kitschy knick-knacks.

At the Khyber Institute of Contemporary Art on Barrington Street, more than 500 people rummaged through second-hand swag and vintage vendors’ tables. Shoppers didn’t just look for a deal, they also enjoyed sipping beer and listening to DJ Sway Back’s smooth sounds. After all, it was Saturday night, and this is Halifax.

The event was organized by Natalie Slater and Chloe Anderson, women in their 20s eager to bring a bit of Asia to our backyards.

“I honestly get jealous of what other cities have to offer,” says Slater. “It’s therapy for me to make something happen here which I was inspired by elsewhere.”

The women met at Lost & Found, a North End boutique that sells vintage gear. Anderson had just returned to Halifax after a year of teaching in Korea, while Slater was playing with the idea of moving to the Asian country herself.

“As soon as I found out she had just come back, I gushed about my desire to host a nightflea market,” Slater said. “We decided to collaborate on the project the day we met.”

Their first night market was in November 2010, followed by another in March of this year.

Slater said the events were a success and believes they will continue to get better. “The first  night flea market was amazing and they continue to progress. We’ve ironed out all the kinks that could arise and know the right amount of vendors to really fill the place up nicely,” she said.

Though it has proven popular among night owls and Halifax’s hipster scene, don’t expect the market to become a regular thing just yet.

“If there is a demand to have it around more often, we’d satisfy that demand,” Slater said. “But we don’t want to devalue the experience by having it too often.”

Slater and Anderson say they’ll be back with another night bazaar, giving eager market-goers another chance to slam on snooze and shop when the sun goes down.