When someone visits Old Town, the typical itinerary remains the same: Park the car, grab a bite to eat, then peruse stores along the line. Maybe they even treat themselves to ice cream at Edison’s for dessert.

Courtney King, one of many strolling through Fort Collins Saturday, Sept. 20, was walking through Old Town when, suddenly, the sight of white tents and clothing racks caught her attention.

“I was just walking down here,” King said while perusing the Cursed Vintage clothing racks. “I didn’t even know this was going on.”

The Fort Collins Vintage Market is hosted by Cursed Vintage and Collective Vintage, a clothing store, bar and social hub, in partnership with Dandelions and Rust: A Colorado Mercantile, which is located next to the Oak Street Plaza in Old Town. Despite the market being held once a month, this was King’s first time attending.

Katrina King, another first-timer passing through Old Town, took note of all the variety at the market.

“I was impressed when I looked through the clothes, and I was like, ‘Oh, there is actually cute stuff here,'” King said.

Although vintage markets tend to attract college-aged customers, many who pass by this vintage paradise will not be able to resist taking a turn around the Oak Street Plaza. Its vibrant clothing, inviting vendors and upbeat music make it impossible to pass up on a perfect autumn’s day.

Mason Kruckenberg, a sustainable fashion enthusiast, works for the vintage market. Kruckenberg said he hopes to expand the attractions at the market by hosting raffles or a coupon hide-and-seek so the event will become something more than a “position.” Raising funds to help families pay for health care is his primary goal.

“We donate (vendor fees) back to cancer,” Kruckenberg said. “Just feeding the community, showing our appreciation (is the goal).”

“It is cool to see people wearing my stuff around, especially on campus. … Out of 150,000 people, just that one person wearing something they bought from you, it kind of makes it a small world.” -Jake Budzynski, Third Floor Vintage owner

Kruckenberg explained that the vintage market has no limit on who can partake.

“(Vendors) come from Cheyenne, Denver, sometimes Castle Rock, … some people from Casper,” Kruckenberg said.

The vintage market is an outlet where people who built businesses from the ground up can do what they love in a welcoming environment.

Jake Budzynski sells “whatever falls into his lap.” His business, Third Floor Vintage, was one of the earlier vendors to take advantage of this opportunity. Budzynski’s passion project pays his tuition fees but also serves a greater purpose.

What Budzynski said he really loves is how his business and others attract people from a “diverse ecosystem,” allowing them to explore a world they normally do not get to see.

He looked at the bustling crowd of people as they walked and shopped.

“It is cool to see people wearing my stuff around, especially on campus,” Budzynski said. “Out of 150,000 people, just that one person wearing something they bought from you, it kind of makes it a small world.”

Judea Beevers and Sheila Schlegel do not just buy and resell vintage clothing; they upcycle. Their booth was filled with unique creations, most notably Beevers’ jeans, which she dressed up with patterned fabrics at the leg cuffs.

“I hated wearing jeans, so I started making them for myself,” Beevers said.

Most anyone can find something they like at the Fort Collins Vintage Market. For fashion-conscious consumers who want ideas on how to pair finds, Tanya Mielke, the owner of Dandelions and Rust, has the solution.

What the hosts of the vintage market call “summer’s end” will be a fashion show in the middle of the Oak Street Plaza at 1 p.m. Oct. 11 — catwalk and all.

“We decided (that) at the end of summer we wanted to do sort of a bigger thank you to the vendors who participated,” Miekle said.

Select vendors will dress models in outfits straight from their booth’s clothing racks. The show will not only promote their businesses, but it will also give shoppers ideas on how to pair vendors’ outfits.

Whether customers decide to purchase that pair of upcycled bell-bottom jeans or simply want to have a fun time flipping through the clothing racks — maybe even striking up conversations with strangers who share this common interest — the Fort Collins Vintage Market is worth the visit.

Reach Carlee Elders at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @RMCollegian.