Really Really Free Market

The Really Really Free Market (RRFM) movement is a horizontally organized collective of individuals who form a temporary market based on an alternative gift economy. RRFM events are often hosted by people unaffiliated with any large organization, and are encouraged to sprout up by anyone, anytime, anywhere. The RRFM movement aims to counteract capitalism in a proactive way by creating a positive example to challenge the questioned myths of scarcity and competition. The name Really Really Free Market is itself a play on words as it is a reinterpretation and re-envisioning of the term free market, which generally refers to an economy of competition governed by supply and demand. The RRFM holds as a major goal to build a community based on sharing resources, caring for one another and improving the collective lives of all. Markets often vary in character, but they generally offer both goods and services. A RRFM usually takes place in an open community space such as a public park or community commons.

The first Really Really Free Market in the United States happened simultaneously in Miami, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina, during the anti-globalization protests against the FTAA in 2003. The idea of a "Really, Really Free Market" emerged from a visioning ritual by members of the Pagan Cluster in Austin in preparation of the FTAA Summit in Miami, November 2003. Members of the Green Bloc picked up the idea and made it real. Participants from the SouthEast Anarchist Network (SeaNET) held demonstrations using the Really, Really Free Market to protest the G8 summit in 2004. The idea quickly spread across the United States, Russia, and other countries such as Australia, England, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Africa, and Canada.

The movement has taken root in dozens of cities in the United States, with some holding one-time events, annual, bi-monthly, and even monthly markets. 2023 Really Really FREE Markets were held in Portland, OR, San Antonio, TX, Anaheim, CA, and elsewhere.

In 2025 the Bloomington-Normal Really Really FREE Market is every 3rd Saturday, 10am-1pm, in Miller Park, April thru October (weather dependent). This Really Really FREE Market started in 2011 as a bi-weekly free store at the corners of W. Market and Howard St. in west Bloomington, and has had monthly events at Miller Park since 2013. [1]

In 2023 the Really Really FREE Market was hosted every 2nd Saturday at 621 E. 4th Street.[2][3][4]

Held in 2023 at alternating parks, either Travis Park or Pitman-Sullivan park on the last Saturday of the month.[5]

As recently as 2022, attendees enjoy the market on the last Saturday of every month at Gateway Discovery Park

Held on the last Sunday of the month at La Palma park. First active in 2008.[6]