Grants, local businesses make way for quirky neighborhood event.

The Hill District Flea, formerly known as the Flagship Flea, will kick off its season Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with food, fun and unique finds in its quirky shops and tents set up on lower Peach Street. The open-air market will take place every last Sunday through Oct. 27.

The events will include live music and local food from Give a Crepe, Tipsy Bean, and, this week, Atacolypse and Fat Boys Phillys food trucks and beer from Erie Ale Works. Federal Hill Smokehouse, just south of West 26th Street, will be open, serving smoked and braised and everything’d meats.

“We’re trying to re-brand and revitalize the area,” said event organizer and Pointe Foure vintage shop owner Emily George. She said, for the third season, she was able to snag grants from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and Erie Arts & Culture and won a Erie Greater Award from Preservation Erie. George said the EAC grant is for creating artisan crosswalks in the neighborhood, which she said will go in this summer when the road is closed for the Flea events.

Other fun stuff: Dogs are welcome at the events, and the Anna Shelter will have a tent with a dog up for adoption; French Street Farms will run a ‘Plant a Seed to Help the Hill Grow’ project, where kids can plant a seedling and donations go to the Hill. Also, Thorn: Paper Floral Artistry is accepting art from kids 12 to 17 to sell at the Flea. Find them on Facebook.