DAYS BEFORE THE AUTUMN EQUINOX, I found myself in small town Lonsdale at a craft and flea market. Located in northwestern Rice County, this community of just under 5,000 with easy access to Interstate 35 to the east, is experiencing both residential and business growth.
Yet, it retains its rural character, most notable in the aged grain elevator complex rising high above the town. Those grain elevators provided the backdrop for the recent weekend sale centered around RR Revival/Rusty Rabbitiques, a spacious vintage goods, garden iron and home accessories business.
Vendors set up shop near RR Revival to sell food, crafts, flea market and other goods. That included mushrooms, floral bouquets, jewelry, upcycled clothing, hand-painted seasonal décor and much more. If you weren’t in a fall mood when you arrived, you would be upon departure.
Pumpkins and mums, ghosts and scarecrows, flowers and gourds in autumn hues, all set the stage to welcome the change in seasons. I even saw a young girl trying out her “Wizard of Oz” Dorothy costume, complete with red shoes, for Halloween.
As I wandered, the caramel scent of kettle corn wafted through the air.
Musicians played in the shelter of a small tent pitched on the street near RR Revival.
I appreciated the smallness of this craft and flea market and the ease with which I could meander and chat with sellers. The creativity and ingenuity of artisans always amazes me. Take Ellorie at The Thrifty Toad Shop. An avid thrifter, she turned her love of thrifting into a business. She buys second-hand shirts (mostly flannel) and graphic tees then upcycles them by cutting and sewing the t-shirt designs onto the backs of flannel shirts. I love this idea of reusing second-hand clothes, of creating something visually interesting and different. I’m no fashionista. But for someone like me who wears a lot of t-shirts and flannel (come autumn), Ellorie’s shirts are the perfect fit.
Under another tent, Patti of A Touch from the Heart Creations also upcycles, painting seasonal designs onto old shovels, spades, pails, gas cans and more.
At Shellie’s Stitches Everything Crochet, it’s all about crocheting—Christmas trees, snowmen, pumpkins and, well, whatever this crafter wants to make and vend.
This event, along Railway Street near the grain elevators in Lonsdale and billed as the RR Revival Flea Market, proved a wonderful way to welcome autumn.
Two blocks away, the Something for All Consignment/Thrift Store also drew me inside to shop in the building’s nooks and crannies. Outside the shop, kids (mostly) could pose behind seasonal photo cut-outs, decorate a mini pumpkin, play with an oversized Jenga. There were wooden ghosts, jack-o-lanterns crafted from gas can, fiery salsa and more for sale, too.
I left Lonsdale without a single purchase. But what I bought was a few hours of contentment and enjoyment in a small town with a grain elevator, a familiar rural landmark that will always claim a piece of my heart.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Hello! I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your essays about Minnesota life. I moved away from there in 1992 (after living in Waseca, Winona, Mankato, Rochester, and St. Paul before moving to Virginia) and I do miss it! And all my grandparents were from Faribault. Your lovely essays keep me in touch with my beloved Minnesota. Thank you, Karen Adams
Karen, thank you for writing this lovely comment. I so appreciate that you appreciate my work. I’m happy to keep you connected to Minnesota via my images and words.
it looks like a really fun time, lots to see and wander through. I’m always impressed by people who find a way to upcycle clothing. I’m not a good seamstress and enjoy seeing what people can do with these pieces. looks like lots of vendors with everything fall to get you ready for the season.
It was fun to see all of the creativity. A lot of talented creators out there.
Looks like a lovely fall outing. I’m surprised I didn’t see any advertising about this event…I must have missed it. Seems to be worth telling people about. Thank you for sharing.
If not for Randy seeing this on Facebook, and then telling me, I wouldn’t have known about this either. I’m not on Facebook.
Another fabulous event. I feel like you have so many great fairs and events to go to that you could go to one every single day. What a fun way to experience fall!
Weekends right now are jam-packed with events. Gotta fit everything in before winter. Ha.
Sometimes the best moments are free!
That is absolutely true.
Beautiful capture of the events Audrey! I can take some appreciation with the picture of the man with the pumpkin in his lap (in the Husband”s Chair as in “park your husband here”. ) Then a few pictures down you show an image of the fall related harvest on a leave shaped dish. Kind of reminds me when I was doing ceramics, I have a little Elf frozen in a Maple Leaf dish (about November 1957 which I made for my parents and experiments with various painting techniques, and then you show my wife’s favorite flower showing up in the next frame. Great Days – lots of fun!
Gunny, I’m glad I brought back a lot of wonderful memories for you via my images. I like that “park your husband here” description.
This looks like such a fun way to spend the day and now I must check out that shop with all of the crochet items.
Small town events are always fun.