Really, Really Free Market returns to Rockford

By Susan Johnson
Copy Editor

It’s part swap meet, part kids’ games, part day-in-the-park outing, but mostly, it’s a fun way to get something for free!

The Really, Really Free Market returns to Rockford from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 21, at Beattie Park, downtown Rockford.

Kelly McKee, one of the organizers, explained the concept of Really, Really Free: “People bring all kinds of items — anything such as clothes, toys, books, movies, furniture, anything people can use. No money is exchanged; no barter, no trade. Bring as much as you want, take as much as you want. You don’t even have to bring anything!”

How did this idea get started?

“It’s a fun way to keep stuff out of landfills and get to know your neighbors,” McKee said. She recalled that the first year it was held here, 2009, “we had arts and crafts, poetry reading. An established author came and talked about how he got his book published. We had leatherworking, polymer clay, face painting and activities for kids.” It was held in Haight Park, by the Jefferson Street bridge.

The Rockford event was started by Eric Howanietz, who first saw it in California, and McKee. Since then, it has spread all over the country and to Europe as well.

This year, the plan is to hold a Really, Really Free Market once a month from May through August. Dates and places TBA. McKee encourages everyone to come out and have a good time — for free! For more information, call (815) 540-8909.

From the April 18-24, 2012, issue