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The name is Floozy Flea — it’s a market that’s fun, it’s a market that’s weird, it’s a market that’s absurd and campy in the best way. And it’s a market that supports local artists.
Floozy Flea was founded by queer artist May Luna in 2022 — it first popped up at her house then eventually moved to businesses around Tucson.
“I had a house with three other roommates and we were all in college and we barely knew each other and I was like, ‘Can I do this in our backyard?’ and they said yes,” May says. “There’s a lot of quirky gay art. Everything is super colorful and vibrant. I just feel like it’s an outlet for freaks to express themselves.”
Before Floozy Flea was a thought, May did her first market in high school where she sold vintage clothing and handmade jewelry in the middle of the school. She later set up at her grandpa’s Mesa barber shop, Luna’s Hair.
“Once I moved (to Tucson), I didn’t find markets that I felt like were really for me,” May says. “I was also in art school and there wasn’t a big art school vibe to it — people weren’t doing things together outside of school. I didn’t feel like there was a community.”
May sought out to create that community herself — and Floozy Flea was born.
The market happens several times a year and prioritizes BIPOC, queer, disabled and women-owned businesses. Beyond the vendors, the fleas often include live music and some sort of activity like crafts, games or costume contests.
“I just wanted a space for people to actually feel comfortable and meet other people like them,” she says. “I feel like there wasn’t a market like that in Tucson that I could find. I did one with kind of the same setup (as Floozy Flea) in San Diego, it’s the Lucky Stars Market. I just felt so comfortable and the people there appreciated my art and were similar to me.”
May’s markets generally have a theme — think prom vibes or a slumber party theme with nail painting and movies. Come Jan. 24, May is hosting a flea with a hidden location where it’s encouraged to show up wearing a silly disguise.
Here’s how it works: May is hiding little blue tickets at local businesses around town (and she’s posting clues on Floozy Flea’s Instagram). If you find a ticket, you can message her for the location.
“I did scavenger hunts a lot as a kid and it was my favorite thing to do — my dad would leave clues for my cousin and I to find,” May says. “I feel like it’s more fun to do marketing in person. People have to actually physically go to locations I like or I think other Floozy Flea people frequent. I think it’s cool because they’re going to local businesses and they might shop there or find a place they haven’t been to before.”
Throw on your best disguise — even a stick-on mustache will do — and shop from artists selling ceramics, jewelry, pastries, cosmetics and more when the market takes place from 1-5 p.m.
While May is excited for the secret flea, two past themes are tied as her favorites.
“I think it would be between circus or underwater. I just love clown things and it was a great excuse to make clown graphics and dress up in a bunch of different costumes,” May says. “For underwater, I feel like it’s a theme I haven’t seen a lot. I was like, ‘I want to see people get dressed up as fish and mermaids.’”
And her favorite thing about hosting Floozy Flea? It keeps her on her toes.
“I think it keeps me so insanely busy and also a little bit scared. It’s so nerve-wracking that people are counting on me to do well and I really care that they’re successful,” she says. “I think that pressure keeps me motivated to come up with new creative ways to promote it so the artists have a good turnout.”
May moved to Tucson from the Phoenix area in 2020 to attend the University of Arizona. She was a sculpture student who worked with both welding and woodworking. When she sets up her table at Floozy Flea, she brings vintage and upcycled clothing to sell as well as her handmade jewelry.
Beyond Floozy Flea, she loves to play dress-up and calls styling a “fake job” of hers. She also works at Sigfus Designs, which is home to a massive charm bar — “People ask what I do and I say I help people make charm jewelry. It sounds made up,” she says.
She’s also trying to get back into creating sculptures. She enjoys making furniture and household items that look out of the ordinary.
“I feel like (selling and displaying art) is the point of going to art school, but I never felt like I wanted to put my stuff in a gallery,” she says. “I’m more making it for my house or to use as props for Floozy Flea. I feel like my sculpture background helps me making weird flea market things, like I have a little dress-up backdrop you put your face through and you can change the clothes on it.”
When May first started Floozy Flea in 2022, the market was home to eight vendors. Now, more than 20 set up.
“(Floozy Flea) has grown a lot. Doing things at Hotel Congress — in the center of where everything’s going on — I feel like more people have seen it when walking by,” she says. “Even vendors who don’t return to sell at every event, they’ll still come to support and bring their friends. It’s been a lot of word of mouth because everyone is looking for community.”
✨ Floozy Flea’s next event takes place 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 in a secret location. Find a blue ticket around town to get the address. For more information, visit Floozy Flea’s Instagram. ✨
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