For the last few years, Vintage Market Days has been a place for people to go to get original and antique decor and clothing.

Starting today, this favorite event returns to the Lee Civic Center and serves as the first big event for the 2022-23 season.

Vintage Market Days will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with more than 100 vendors from throughout the state and elsewhere to sell clothing, antiques, food, jewelry and much more to the thousands who come.

The event started at the Naples Fair Grounds in 2018 before moving to the Civic Center later that year. After having to cancel the 2020 shows because of COVID, they resumed last year, allowing the vendors and ticket holders to come back and transfer their payments at no charge.

The shows have been a huge hit and have grown, according to Meri Stoute, who manages the show with her husband, Danny.

“Our vendors are vintage, vintage inspired, original art, antiques, jewelry, clothing, accessories, treats and we have live music every day,” Stoute said. “We have handmade furnishings, homes and garden decor, we have it all.”

Stoute said this is not a flea market, but an upscale event for people who like original vintage merchandise.

“Our vendors have to have a backdrop. Their own store and creativity and a following to build up their booth space. Our goal is to expand these small business owners,” Stoute said. “Many of them are local and about three-fourths are Florida vendors. They always being something different and every day they restock their booths. There’s never a shortage on Sunday.”

This is the first of two Vintage Market Days held at the Civic Center, with the other to be held in January. The show has expanded into Tampa, where it will be in late October and sometime in the spring.

For people who purchase a $9 pass for Friday get free re-entry the next two days and there will be an early buying event from 9:30 to 10 a.m. to give them first dibs on everything on the floor. The first 25 ticket holders at the gate each day receive a tote with coupons, market cash and even merchandise. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $7 and good for reentry all weekend, while children under 12 are free. Parking is free.

This will be the first of many events at the civic center this season. The next major ones will be the Florida Gun Show on Oct. 1 and 2, and the third-annual Lee County Senior Expo on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Lee Civic Center is at 11831 Bayshore Road,North Fort Myers.

For more information, go to leeciviccenter.com or vintagemarketdays.com.