A new summer event hit Harbor Country over Memorial Day weekend, and it’s set to return. Blackbird Crossing Vintage Market — a sort of “pop-up” antique show — will stage its second monthly sale the fourth weekend in June (and subsequent months through October).
The market is the brainchild of Keek Bielby, owner of Blais, in Three Oaks’ historic train station.
In Tucson for the winter, she popped in on her favorite antique dealer only to find he’d closed the shop. Instead, he was producing one-time show events. Bielby was intrigued and worked with him through the winter to learn the ropes.
Returning to Three Oaks, she and her husband, Bill, teamed up with Lynn and Matt Swenson to bring the idea to Southwest Michigan. Blackbird Crossing is the result. Using the old Vickers Engineering Factory, the group collected vendors, staged a first show and is now looking forward to the next.
“We had a fabulous response,” said Bielby. “Everybody thought it was interesting. There was such a great variety of merchandise, and the price points were good. So, we are gearing up for another one.”
Bielby emphasizes the markets are a one-time event — with different vendors and goods each time. It is also juried. The Bielbys and the Swensons choose the vendors and approve the items they bring. There are vendors from as far away as Chicago, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids and Saugatuck. They focus on furniture, home decor and accessories.
“Ninety percent of the market is vintage,” said Bielby. “We don’’t do any crafts, we don’t sell jewelry, and we don’t sell vintage clothing. We try not to have too many little things, but we want everyone to find that one thing to take home.”
The market begins on Fridays at noon, lasting until 8 p.m. South Bend musician Lucas Minor provides music (worth the visit in and of itself) and wine and refreshments help usher in the weekend.
The market continues on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.
Bielby offers just this one warning: If you find something you love, buy it. There is no guarantee it will be there again.

2013 dates for Blackbird Crossing Vintage Market are:

June 21-23
July 26-28
Aug. 23-25
Sept. 27-29
Oct. 25-27