The Best Record Fairs in Los Angeles

LA’s bounty of vinyl goes far beyond the brick-and-mortar record stores that dot the city and surrounding areas. Record fairs, flea markets and pop-ups happen throughout the year, offering collectors ample opportunity to excavate for hidden treasures. At these events, you may have the chance to connect with vendors whose area of expertise match your own niche musical interests, find the album that’s been on your wish list for years or, at least, acquire a stack or records you didn’t know you needed. Check out the list of events below as you prepare for your weekend vinyl digs.

Before you begin your quest, note that, while some record swaps are regularly scheduled happenings, others are less frequent and may only be announced a few weeks in advance. In those instances, it’s best to either sign up for the event’s mailing list or follow along on social media to stay-up-to-date on future events. Individual vendors often turn up at multiple events, and sometimes drop in for pop-ups in spaces like nightclubs. If you find vendors whose collections interest you, make sure to follow them as well.

Beat Swap Meet, the long-running gathering for vinyl aficionados, presents the LA Record Fair on the third Sunday of the month at the Arts District location of Arrow Lodge Brewing Company. Between noon and 5pm, shoppers can check out the offerings of more than 30 dealers with genre-spanning selections. If one Beat Swap Meet event isn’t enough for you, the group also presents the SGV Record Fair at Arrow Lodge’s location in Covina.

Instagram: @beatswapmeet
Arrow Lodge Brewing, 950 E. 3rd Street, Unit 1A, Los Angeles 90013

Known for a broad range of pop-up music events around Los Angeles, In Sheep’s Clothing collaborates with Japonesia to host record fairs several times a year at Homage Brewing in Chinatown.

The footprint for these events is small, but they're packed with quality vinyl from vendors with specialized collections. If you’re in the market for hard-to-find international records ranging from city pop to Italo disco to Middle Eastern funk, this is the record fair you can’t miss.

Instagram: @insheepsclothinghifi
Instagram: @tsuguitagaki
Homage Brewing, 1219 N. Main St, Los Angeles 90012

Presented by The Odd Market, Los Feliz Flea takes place every weekend at Vintage Land, which is actually located on the border of Chinatown and Echo Park. Better known as a vintage clothing source, Los Feliz Flea hosts vinyl vendors as well - you’ll find most of the record selection on the ground floor of the parking garage where the flea market takes place.

The number of vendors can vary, but since Los Feliz Flea runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, it’s a particularly good venue for locals who like to dig regularly.

Instagram: @losfelizflea
Vintage Land, 1030 Alpine St, Los Angeles 90012

The Record Swap at the Pasadena City College Flea Market is essential for LA-area vinyl fanatics. More than 50 vendors set up shop in a designated section of the flea market with enough crates to keep you digging for the bulk of the day. The vast span of genres represented here is impressive. Whether you’re looking for disco classics or Japanese film soundtracks, you will likely unearth something unexpected.

Vendors at the record swap also carry a good amount of memorabilia and music released on formats other than vinyl. Arrive early if you intend on taking a deep dive into every collection, but know that there’s enough vinyl available that late-risers should still be able to find some goodies in the bins.

The PCC Flea Market takes place from 8am to 3pm on the first Sunday of the month. Be sure to check out the event’s website for updated parking info.

Instagram: @pccfleamarket
Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena 91106

While not technically a record fair, Highland Park pop-up space Rappcat hosts events throughout the year that cater to collectors with specialized tastes. For six years, DJ Shadow has held his annual storage sale here. Cult favorite record labels like Mr. Bongo and Sonar Music Editions have come through the venue with collections of rarities for sale. A recent Tropicalia in Furs pop-up focused on cross-genre, cross-decade releases from Brazil. Sign up for the Rappcat mailing list to stay updated on upcoming pop-ups.

Rappcat, 5638 York Blvd, Los Angeles 90042

Currently held at Creature Comforts Brewing in City Market South, Riddim ’n Brews is a monthly party dedicated to vintage Jamaican music played on vinyl by some of the best selectors in the Los Angeles area. A few times a year, the Sunday afternoon event also includes a record swap. If you’re looking for reggae, rocksteady, ska and dub, be sure to check out what the vendors have in stock. The offerings aren’t limited to Jamaican records - you’ll find everything from funk to punk and it’s a particularly good place to dig if your interests lean towards late 1970s and early 1980s British artists.

Instagram: @thebossground
Creature Comforts Brewing, 1124 San Julian St, Unit 101, Los Angeles 90015

Located at ROW DTLA, Smorgasburg is renowned as a weekly destination for diners in search of new culinary delights. On the third Sunday of the month, it’s also the spot for unearthing vintage sounds. The Smorgasburg Record Fair is curated by dublab and the vendors reflect the long-running online radio station’s vibe with a mixed genre assortment of collections, including some that specialize in hard-to-find international releases.

The record fair takes place from 10am and 4pm. Check the Smorgasburg calendar for updates.

Instagram: @smorgasburgla
ROW DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St, Los Angeles 90021

Vinyl may not be the primary draw at South Pas Flea, but the monthly event does host a small handful of knowledgeable vendors with excellent collections. Another advantage to South Pas Flea is its close proximity to the Metro A Line stop in South Pasadena. If you’re short on time, but still need a vinyl fix, this is a great stop to add to your agenda on the third Saturday of the month, when the flea market runs from 9am to 3pm.

Instagram: @southpasflea
920 Meridian Ave, South Pasadena 91030