A core tenet of collecting is that the hunt is its own reward. Sifting through someone’s old stuff to find a treasure is an endorphin rush.

Flea markets can be sprawling events, with hundreds of vendors descended into a lawlessly organized floorplan. Some chaos is part of the fun. But you want a balance of order and disarray, and Elkhorn’s Antique Flea Market has that.

ELKHORN FLEA MARKET: AUG. 10 AND SEPT. 28, 7 A.M.-3 P.M., $5 AT THE GATE.

Begun in 1982, the market 45 minutes southwest of Milwaukee has grown from 15-20 vendors its first year to more than 500 sellers spread around indoor and outdoor stalls on the Walworth County Fairgrounds. The season consists of four markets, May to September, held rain or shine. You could easily spend the day and not see even half of it.

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