By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
On Saturday, May 24, the Hidden Gems Weekend Market was buzzing with activity as thousands of visitors poured into Tulalip for the popular community swap meet. The grounds were packed with vendors and shoppers alike, drawn by the promise of one-of-a-kind finds, delicious food, and an atmosphere that felt more like a celebration than a market. From clothing and collectibles to handcrafted goods and hot meals, there was something for everyone.
First-year vendor Jay Mapoy, who traveled from Smokey Point to participate, shared his excitement about joining the market. “It’s been going great, it’s fun and a good experience,” he said. “I am going to try to be out here all summer.” What keeps him coming back isn’t just the business—it’s the surprises. “The finds are great, you never know what you are going to see at the swap meet. Additionally, meeting new people and engaging in meaningful conversations. And the food is delicious, I never have to pack a lunch when I go.”
Visitors like Tulalip tribal member Nicholas Martin echoed the sentiment. “I like to come to the Hidden Gems market and look at all the booths, but most of all I like the food,” he said. “There are a lot of options. I had the birria tacos and they were excellent.” Like many, Martin had to park offsite and walk in due to the high turnout, but he didn’t mind. “It was a lot of people, yeah. It’s been crazy,” he said.
The market’s origins date back to 2011 when Tulalip Tribal Member Les Parks founded it. Initially launched at Boom City, it was a modest venue for community members to sell their goods. “It did well the first year, and the first year was the best year,” Parks said. “But each year after that, the revenue kept declining. And as I was a Board of Director, I didn’t have the time to tend to it.” He eventually decided to shut it down. That’s when his daughter Mackenzie stepped in. “She said, ‘I want it, I’ll take it over.’ I told her, ‘No, Mackenzie, it doesn’t make enough money. It’s a dying business.’ And she said, ‘Not enough money to you is a lot of money to me—let me do it.’”
Mackenzie Parks officially took over the market around 2017 or 2018 and began rebuilding it. “It was a learning process,” she admitted. “I wasn’t doing too well at it for the first couple of years. However, it probably turned around in 2020. It was mostly social media that helped get the word out there about us.” Les added, “Social media advertising is significant nowadays, and that’s where the focus has been.”
What sets the Hidden Gems market apart from other swap meets, Mackenzie believes, is the community. “We have a nice community,” she said. On sunny weekends, that community includes upwards of 250 vendors, and even on rainy days, around 40 to 216 still show up. Despite weather challenges, the market has become a consistent and well-loved destination.
Interestingly, the market’s busiest year came during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We expected the COVID year to be just dead-no customers, no vendors—and it was the opposite,” said Les. “People had nowhere to go, and they wanted to find cheap goods and have fun. This year has been similar. There’s no COVID, but people still don’t want to travel or spend big money, so they’re staying close to home and finding venues like Mackenzie’s.”
Traffic has occasionally caused headaches, but Mackenzie has responded by hiring an independent traffic control team to ease congestion. “There’s about an hour during the weekend day when the traffic gets messed up and people get irritated,” Les acknowledged. “But it’s a short window. For the most part, the membership loves what they see.”
As for plans, the market is currently located at 6410 33rd Ave NE, Tulalip, WA, a site with about 15 acres of space. However, MacKenzie is actively searching for a new 30-acre location to accommodate the growing crowds and minimize traffic concerns. “That gravel parking lot at Boom City just wasn’t working out,” Les explained. “We need more room.”
For Mackenzie, the best part of running the market is the eclectic mix of vendors and the thrill of discovering vintage and antique items. “I love the flea market-type of vendors getting a bunch of antique stuff,” she said. Les, on the other hand, finds joy in watching the visitors. “I love it when the kids come up there, running around with smiles on their faces. That’s what I like to see.”
The Parks family wants the community to know that they are continually adapting to the market to meet the needs of both customers and vendors. “You have to adapt to the circumstances that surround you,” Les said. “Mackenzie is constantly in a mode of adapting, changing, and morphing into what her customers and vendors need. We want the membership to know we’re doing the best we can to bring people to the rez, to spend their money, have a good time, and put Tulalip back on the map in a good way.”
Getting a booth at Hidden Gems is simple—no sign-ups are needed. Spots are first come, first served. Vendor spaces are $50 per day for a full spot (18’x20’) or $25 for a half spot (9’x20’), though half spots are limited. The only requirement to sell is a Tribal business license, and the team makes it easy: paperwork is provided on site, submitted for you, and the cost is covered. Vendors can check in at the silver trailer at the market entrance on Fridays from 12 PM to 5 PM, or after 6 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. The market is open to the public from 9 AM to 6 PM every weekend.