From curating the perfect lineup of vendors to swapping stories about rare finds, Jessi Zilka of Jesse Carl Vinyl gives us a glimpse into what makes this record fair more than just another stop for collectors—it’s a full-on celebration of sound. If you’re ready to step up your vinyl game, this is where it starts.
TELL US ABOUT IT
There’s a magic to being in one room with so many people who share the hobby of record collecting—it promotes camaraderie and acceptance. We knew Lakeland had the potential to provide that exact vibe with its own fair if we could just get one up and running. With the help of our friends at Rec Room, we began hosting the Lakeland Record Fair in the spring of 2023. This coming event will be our fifth volume, marking a change in venue for our event, making it bigger and better for our community! The joy of shopping at a record fair is that there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for rarities that don’t often hit the shelves of your local record stores, or you’re looking for some bargain prices to get deals on bigger stacks of albums, everyone is capable of enjoying their shopping experience at the Lakeland Record Fair!
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ORGANIZE THIS EVENT?
Since the beginning of my own collecting journey almost 20 years ago, record fairs have always been some of my favorite places to shop. I’ve gotten to know folks by continuously showing up to these events, and so these fairs have become more than just buying records for me. They feel like a true family. The Lakeland Record Fair is massively fueled by my relationship with people in the collecting community. People like Dan from Tonevendor in St. Augustine, Keith at Microgroove in Tampa, and Casey at the Clearwater Record Store (among many others) have been constant supporters of Jesse Carl Vinyl—my store as a whole couldn’t have gotten where it is now without people like this in my corner. And since starting our own fair in 2023, I feel like I have even more people in my corner now, wanting to see us succeed. The friends I’ve made with people like the abovementioned are truly what inspired me to organize the Lakeland Record Fair. I wanted others to experience the same feeling of community that I have over the years.
GIVE US SOME HISTORY ON THE RECORD FAIR
We began the Lakeland Record Fair in February of 2023, and hosted it at Rec Room in downtown Lakeland. For years I wanted to get a record fair into Lakeland, but I didn’t have access to space to get it started. When Rec Room acquired the former Lkld Live space next door to their arcade bar, I reached out to Jason Ellis, one of the coowners of Rec Room and a close friend of mine, and asked if they’d be willing to host a record fair in that empty Lkld Live space. His answer was immediately “yes” and the rest is history!
WHAT CAN GUESTS EXPECT?
There will be between 20-25 record vendors at this fair. Attendees can expect a wide selection from rare 60s rock and roll to hip-hop to post-punk and electronic, jazz, and more. Some vendors bring CDs, cassette tapes, old posters, t-shirts, and other memorabilia. Shoppers can expect to find a wide range of prices—from valuable collectible records to inexpensive bargain albums. There’s truly something for everyone.
CAN GUESTS SELL OR TRADE THEIR OWN VINYL?
We don’t allow folks to set up to sell and trade unless they’ve signed up to be an official vendor due to safety reasons, as well as capacity limits on the venue. We do, however, encourage shoppers to have conversations with vendors if they have items they’d like to sell or trade in the future.
WILL THERE BE OTHER MERCHANDISE FOR SALE?
We’ll definitely have some music memorabilia and music-related art. I will also be setting up a table for my personal loose-leaf tea brand, Half Note Teas—blends inspired by all things jazz!
SHOULD GUESTS ARRIVE HUNGRY?
Yes! There will be food and drink available from local food vendors, as well as hot and iced coffee!
WHO SHOULD COME TO THE RECORD FAIR?
Our fair is geared toward anyone who has a love for collecting music media. Whether you’re a new collector or a seasoned veteran, our event is meant to be enjoyed by all. It’s absolutely a family-friendly event! We encourage folks to bring their kiddos along—kids under 18 get in for free!
WHAT DO YOU HOPE GUESTS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE?
I hope attendees of our fair will experience the fun of crate digging alongside so many others from all different walks of life, sharing in their love for physical music media. Of course, I want folks to find what they’re looking for and to be able to mark things off their wishlist, but at the heart of the Lakeland Record Fair is a desire to build community with one another. I hope shoppers at our event walk out with unique experiences and interactions with others they’ve maybe never met before. And who knows, maybe they’ll recognize those same people at the next fair and can become friends! That’s really what this is all about.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE RECORD IN YOUR COLLECTION?
I’ve been collecting records since 2009, and I’ve owned Jesse Carl Vinyl for almost 10 years. Records aren’t just a hobby for me—they’re a way of life. Collecting is a passion that’s at the core of who I am, and it’s something that I will likely be involved in for the rest of my life. I’ve met some of my dearest friends through collecting. It has been the joy of my life. I have SO many records in my collection that mean a lot to me. My favorite album of all time is “Ten” by Pearl Jam. But one of my most treasured items would have to be my 2015 translucent blue variant of Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” soundtrack. It’s seen more rotations on my turntable than any other piece in my collection!
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR THAT DAY?
Seeing some of my favorite people and getting to spend the day surrounded by other collectors! It brings me endless joy.
Lakeland Record Fair Volume V
Lake Mirror Auditorium
121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland
February 23, 10 am – 4 pm
$5 admission, $3 for college students with school ID, kids under 18 get in free
Jesse Carl Vinyl
304 N. Kentucky Ave, #1150, Lakeland
FB @JesseCarlVinyl
IG @jessecarlviny
