The Yuma Swap Meet, located at 4000 S. 4th Ave. in Yuma, AZ, will celebrate its 50th anniversary February 15-16. On February 15, there will be traditional Mexican folkloric dancing, country music, pig and dog racing, a belly dancer, dancing horses and a display of miniature horses. For the children, there will be a rodeo clown, free rides and face painting. On February 16, a Mexican band will perform. Throughout the weekend, there will also be many giveaways for market guests.
The swap meet is on 40 acres with 1,000 paved vending spaces. Vendors offer a wide array of goods, including clothing, toys, cosmetics, jewelry, artwork, hardware, fresh produce, RV parts and novelty items. A vast assortment of food—from ice cream to Vietnamese cuisine—is also on hand. An expanding number of service providers have set up shop to provide haircuts, pedicures and tattoos, and such businesses as Time Warner Cable maintain a space to connect with potential subscribers. A bandstand often features free entertainment, from country to Mexican music. For the winter season, the swap meet is open Thursday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market greets around 30,000 shoppers on a weekend.
The Yuma Swap Meet, originally called The Park ‘N Swap, got its start as a small weekend addition to Yuma’s live greyhound racing park. Over the 50 years since, the dogs have been retired and the racing ceased in 1993. For more information, call 928-726-4655.