The gentle chatter of shoppers and vendors mingled with the scent of vanilla soap, cloves and beeswax at last weekend’s Little Red Truck Vintage Market. Helena singer Tammie Jones’ soft voice weaved through the crowd from her spot in the back of the Kleffner Ranch barn, solidifying the lively, festive atmosphere.
As eager children queued for corndogs, parents zeroed in on the main attraction: Christmas gifts, vintage clothes, unique home decor, and more. Some attendees drove as much as two hours – from Whitehall, Great Falls, even Sheridan – to stroll the aisles and examine the goods on offer.
“They know they don’t find these [items] in stores,” said vendor Christina Buchenau-Elliot, gesturing toward the booths around her. Buchenau-Elliot said one customer had traveled from Bozeman for her “cottage industry” pottery inspired by Victorian designs.
