On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Northampton Center for the Arts building hosted the second annual Vintage & Vinyl Fair. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown Northampton buzzed with record collectors, fashion enthusiasts and vintage lovers alike.
The fair brought together vendors from across the Pioneer Valley — local shop owners, homestead collectors and lifetime vintage connoisseurs — each with their own carefully curated setup. There was something for everyone: racks of vintage clothes, stacks of records, CDs, cassettes and even a few tables of movie memorabilia. Shoppers thumbed through a selection of vintage magazines, like the original “Nicolas Cage Details” fashion magazine, film threat video guides and even a list of “1001 movies you must see before you die.”
Inside, the music room was the event’s beating heart and center. While vinyls dominated the space, a massive CD collection held its own, ready for ploughing through. The selection leaned more folksy with lots of blues and soul, though rock and underground contemporary artists had a solid presence. A live DJ spinning R&B tracks tied everything together, filling the room with warmth and a nostalgic rhythm.
One of the standout vendors was Source Vintage Clothing, a downtown Northampton staple known for “Pioneer Valley’s best selection in vintage Levi’s” (A handout from Source Vintage). Usually based at 153 Main St. across from Thornes Marketplace, there were Source-stocked racks of timeless denim, authentic wool, 100% cotton sweaters and one-of-a-kind graphic tees. Their booth captured the atmosphere of the clothing at the fair: personal, textured and full of history.
Upstairs was quieter but no less interesting. The second floor featured a curated art exhibit spanning a range of artistic styles and mediums.. It was a slower, more thoughtful space where visitors could take a break and reflect on what “vintage” can mean. The exhibit asked: How can antiquity be represented across media? How has society evolved since these items were first made?
One artist featured upstairs was Northampton resident and multimedia artist Jon Schluenz. His 3D work “Nature Boy” (2016) stood out as a deeply personal meditation on inheritance and emotion. The accompanying blurb on Schluenz’s piece described his attempts to “transfigure the mess of grief and the weight of a handed-down history,” balancing themes of loss and renewal — how something old can hold both grief and love at once.
Another artist, Peter O. Zierlein, used his platform to confront urgent, real-world issues. His series of four framed graphic prints, inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms,” examined wealth disparity in the Connecticut River Valley and the role of ICE in local social divides. By grounding the fair’s nostalgia in present-day awareness, Zierlein’s work reminded visitors that art and culture are also instruments of reflection and change.
The Vintage & Vinyl Fair proved that Northampton’s creative energy thrives not only in what is new, but in what has been lovingly preserved. Whether through art, music or fashion, the event celebrated the value of holding onto things that matter — and the joy of finding them all over again.
For those who missed it, there’s still hope: Recordville, one of the fair’s organizers, has already announced its next record fair in Cambridge, Mass.. Local pop-ups will continue appearing throughout the Valley. If Northampton’s second annual fair is any indication, the past still has plenty left to say.
