Fall 2016 Antiques Shows: Elsewhere

Here’s the low down on the Fall 2016 Antiques Shows in the wider Roundtopolis, including Fayetteville, Lexington and Kenney. Yes, they’re part of the lovable behemoth known as the Round Top Antiques Shows.

Some Back Roads Background
It’s September in the Roundtopolis, which means cow pastures become a treasure-hunting utopia. Tents spring up faster than Pokémon. Historic dance halls welcome boot-scooting shoppers instead of two-steppers. Year-round businesses in the main shopping hubs—Round Top, Carmine, Warrenton and Burton—throw out the welcome mat by setting special hours to serve the estimated 100,000 people who visit the area over a three-week period.

Yes, three weeks.

Originally a two-day weekend show in 1968 overseen by Miss Emma Lee Turney at the Round Top Rifle Hall, the shows, which are all owned by individuals, companies or non-profits, have grown. They now stretch along a 25-mile long corridor and encompass antique, vintage, repurposed, recycled, ready-for-restoration and new items. Those who frequent other shows say it’s the largest in the United States.

Who’s to argue with that?

Come take a whirl around the antiques shows with us as we showcase Round Top Register advertisers. (For locations, dates, hours and important information regarding food, restrooms and parking, see our pullout special section in this magazine.)

By the way, the venues are organized by the city in which their GPS address should show up. In the heart of the rolling hills, only the rural mail carriers know exactly where one town ends and another begins.

And a note on the photos…. These are scenes and vendors representing the entire Round Top Antiques Shows’ experience, not necessarily from the communities and venues we’re showcasing here.

It’s just one big shopping party. Other towns within the Roundtopolis have plenty of shopping during the three weeks of the shows. (Editor’s Note: There may be shows that we miss! Sorry! It’s an embarrassment of shopping riches around here . . ..)

Travels through Brenham and La Grange allow you to check out Leftover’s Antiques in Brenham (also setting up at Marburger Farm Antique Show) and Old World Antieks of La Grange (setting up at The Compound.) Both stores are open year-round.

We’ll highlight destinations in Fayetteville, Lexington and Kenney.

Lisa Stansbury, organizer of Antiques on the Square in Fayetteville, said the show is small by design. In addition, the historic square in Fayetteville is an ideal setting for authentic American antiques set up by dealers from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas and Louisiana. Because the show is open late (9 p.m.) shoppers can scour the fields and halls elsewhere then enjoy a nightly happy hour in Fayetteville while shopping for heartland American antiques, among other items. (Show rules ensure that 80 percent of merchandise offered is antiques.) The show closes with an antiques auction on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. The packing up sale, which starts early and ends when the last vendor leaves, is Sept. 27. (Sept. 17 – 26; 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; 110 West Main.)

The Lexington Fall Antique Show and Sale is held twice yearly, generally as shows in the Round Top corridor are commencing. With free parking and admission and great food, shoppers also enjoy a selection of antique and rustic furniture, Civil War-era weapons, stained glass, cast iron and much more. (Sept. 16 – 18; Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 9035 Highway 77 N.)

The Hodges Farm Antique Show is celebrating its 20^th birthday with door prizes during the fall show at the Kenney Hall. Dawn Hodges and Carol Turner established the show, which prides itself on American country, collectibles and primitives. Well-known for gourds and dried everlastings, demonstrations of old-time crafting are held on opening day. Frank Bielec, star of TLC’s Trading Spaces, offers original artwork, greeting cards and more. (Sept. 27 – Oct. 1; 7 a.m. on opening day; 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., with a close at 4 p.m. Saturday; 444 Hall Road, Kenney (between Bellville and Brenham off Highway 36.)

For the first time in decades, there won’t be a show at Harmonie Hall in Shelby, but the fried chicken dinner, beginning at 11 a.m. and continuing til sell out, is still on. It will be held Sept. 30 at the hall in Shelby near the intersection of FM 1457 and FM 389.

To read more about the Round Top Antiques Shows, check out: Ten Antiques Venues, Five More Antiques Venues and Fall 2016 Antiques Shows: Burton/Carmine, Round Top and Warrenton.

by Katie Dickie Stavinoha
photos by staff