Thursday, January 1, 2026

Rose Bowl Flea Market Returns: A 57-Year Legacy of Treasure Hunting Draws Celebrities and Collectors Worldwide

Pasadena’s most famous monthly marketplace opens its gates Sunday, January 11, drawing 20,000 buyers and 2,500 vendors to the Rose Bowl Stadium for what has become the largest flea market in California and one of the largest in the United States. The event opens at 5 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m., earning the distinction of being called the “Flea Market of the Stars” for over 50 years and recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the ten best flea markets in the world.

The market’s story began November 10, 1968, when entrepreneurs R.G. Canning and Bill Tunnell launched the first event with approximately 200 vendors and 12,000 visitors. The City of Pasadena, seeking year-round income from the Rose Bowl, found in Tunnell and Canning the ideal partners. Tunnell explained the venue’s appeal: “an ideal spot for a flea market because of the large parking lot and the enclosed area for the booths.”

The market now attracts celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift, along with 1,500 international tourists monthly. International visitors prioritize attendance, paying the $20 early-bird fee for admission from 5 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

R.G. Canning Enterprises operates the market. Dennis R. Dodson, Chief Operating Officer, noted in 2018: “There were about 200 vendors when the flea market first started in 1968. Now 2,500 represents a sold-out event, and we consistently meet that number.”

Rose Bowl Flea Market will run on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 5 a.m. Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California. For more information, call (323) 560-7469 or visit rgcshows.com. Ticket prices: $15.83 – $23.21