Junkstock returned for their 13th annual fall festival on the weekend of October 3 to 5 and October 10 to 12, held at Sycamore Farms in Waterloo, Nebraska. It once again brought the people of the Midwest together by allowing them to buy and sell their vintage and handmade products. This year’s theme was Camp Junkstock.
To make Camp Junkstock come alive, they decorated the grounds with camping gear, vintage campers, and national park ornaments. They even had a 25 foot Smokey the Bear located near the Junkstock entrance, creating the perfect photo op. The decorations were a combination of cozy fall camping and national park aesthetic.
Every year Junkstock attracts people from all over the United States, and this festival was no different with more than 30,000 in attendance over the two weekends. It continues to grow in numbers each year, since the owner, Sara Alexander, began the festival in 2012. That first festival was much smaller with around 10,000 visitors and only 29 vendors. Junkstock has now expanded to over 250 food and craft vendors. The majority of businesses come from Nebraska, but other states come down as well, including Iowa, Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Arkansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, and even Arizona.
Businesses look forward to Junkstock each year, because it allows them to get their products into the world and connect with their customers on a more personal level. A large number of vendors don’t own a store where they can sell their products, so they have to rely on Junkstock to promote their new items. Aria Rose, a popular vendor at Junkstock, has been a part of the festival since 2017, and it continues to be their favorite event. Unlike other vendors, Aria Rose does have a store in Lincoln, but many of their customers don’t live in Nebraska. This means they depend on Junkstock to meet and connect with their customers in person. These festivals also provide new and growing businesses a chance to promote their products.
“It’s such an amazing way to get your products into the world,” Lauren Ashley, owner of Aria Rose, said. “We’d definitely recommend Junkstock to other small businesses looking to grow their brand and connect with customers. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind event.”
It’s not only a well-liked event for vendors, but Junkstock visitors as well. People are given the opportunity to shop at new stores and eat tons of delicious food. The live music throughout the day adds to the fun and creates a lively environment especially at this past festival, where new bands played, including Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks. They performed on Saturday, October 4, and played some of Fleetwood Mac’s and Stevie Nick’s biggest hits. People were free to attend the concert with the purchase of a Junkstock day pass for October 4. Having new events and performers keeps people coming back each festival. Kate Ost, a senior at East High School and Junkstock attendee, appreciates seeing the new vintage vendors each year and the creativity in each festival.
“The food is amazing, as well as the atmosphere that they create every year,” Ost said. “I think it’s really cool and really creative and I like that.”
Junkstock is truly a magical experience, with such a fun and creative environment. Their next festival will be in the spring of 2026, and the information for that can be found at junkstock.com.
