10 p.m. Dawn Brandt sits down for a soft drink and a rest. The blacksmith comes here about once a month to see what she can find. Tonight, it’s a file piston ring cleaner — “for working on my car” she explains. She feels pretty loyal to the swap meet — about 10 years ago, she paid $2,000 for a 1961 Harvester Scout and completely rebuilt it. She proudly whips out a picture of the big red auto. While the crowds are still thick, a few vendors are starting to pack up and leave.
10:15 p.m. Kevin Gill, a teen visiting from Mexico, has paid $5 to scale the climbing wall. He’s on his way down, and his mother films it with her phone while she shouts encouragement. The band is no longer playing; shoppers have taken over the stage, using it as a resting spot before they stroll a bit more.
10:30 p.m. Bargains are being made. A flat of flowers is offered for $5 — about half the price it was a few hours before. Men wheel out tires that they just got a deal on, and a flat-screen TV was “a steal” says a man carrying it to his car.
10:45 p.m. Jaiden Wikel is still leading dances. Amonn Sandoval, 13, steps up and proceeds to dazzle Wikel and the cheering crowd with his moonwalking. He does two standing somersaults before he rejoins his friends, leaving a slightly stunned Jaiden behind to try to figure out how he’s going to follow that.
10:50 p.m. The crowds are much thinner, more vendors have left, and shops have started to close their doors. John Dunkley is slowly packing up his silver jewelry. He’s ready for a nap, he says, but it’s been “a great day.” Up the aisle a bit, knife-seller Turnage is almost completely packed up as grandson Alex sits cross-legged on an empty table. “It hasn’t been a great day,” says Turnage. But he’s optimistic. “I’ll be back.”
11 p.m. Most backyard sellers are gone, and the shops have closed. The number of shoppers has dwindled to a few devoted night owls determined to not let the lack of shopping keep them from their fun. Over at Savage Cutz, however, the lights are still up and the line still long. “Sometimes,” says Paul Ruiz. “We’re cutting hair until 1 a.m.”
