Pascal’s gorgeous booth, The Compound
Many folks have tried to explain just exactly what the “Round Top Antiques Show” is, but I think in some ways all those explanations have raised more questions than they’ve answered. Please, please don’t avoid the Show because it seems overwhelming, easy to do wrong, or fraught with peril. By all means, Google around for chambers of commerce, area history, shopping tips, bloggers favorites, travel options, etc. I hope you find all the info helpful rather than complicating.
To add to the mix, here is my own simple Antiques Week 101 Overview based on the questions I think you might have. I invite you to add others to the list using the form at the bottom and I’ll answer them best I can.
Q: What is the Round Top Antiques Show? Or should I say what is Texas Antiques Week? Or is it called Antiques Weekend? Or the Antiques Fest?
A: All of the above are exactly the same thing: A huge bunch of antique shows, all happening simultaneously along the country highways and small towns in and around Round Top, TX.
Q: When?
A: The final week is often the most publicized and search-answered week of the show. But be careful! It’s only the final week.Twice a year, Spring and Fall. Every “show” has its own dates, so here’s how I like to think about it: Take the final advertised weekend as a starting point and backtrack three weeks from there. The earliest week is set-up; the time to go if you want to tromp around partially set up fields by yourself hunting for wholesale level bargains. Lots of dealers and savvy retailers shop Wednesday through Friday of this week. The next week is an ideal time for a newbie to visit, especially during the middle of the week. Plenty of free parking, most every dealer up and ready for business, manageable crowds and traffic, etc. The final week is when things heat way up. Some of the big shows are open only this week and that draws the serious shoppers & partiers, so this is when you’ll get the fun carnival type experience with lots and lots of designers and their clients, couples on the hunt, crazy shopping groups in boots and matching t-shirts, funky after hours champagne bars, book signings, the Prom…
Q: Where do I stay?
A: Ideally in a Bed and Breakfast in Round Top or Carmine or Fayetteville or La Grange. There are so many adorable places. For fancy, try the Red and White. Or The Frenchie. Or Rancho Pillow. BOOK EARLY. If you’ve already missed that moment, try some spots anyway because those early bookers may change their minds. LIKE a few B&B’s on Facebook ’cause they sometimes announce cancellations on their pages. Make backup reservations at a chain hotel in Columbus, Brenham or LaGrange. You’ll have a lovely thirty or forty minute drive in and out every day. And lots of folks make the Show a day trip from Austin or Houston so you can stay there if you’ve only got one day. Which I’m sorry to hear.
Q: Where do I park, eat, potty?
A: There is a finely-tuned support infrastructure to make sure all of your needs will be met. I’ll just say that parking the final week will probably cost you a five dollar bill or two unless you’re clever, save room for Kettle Corn, and don’t be too afraid of the port-a-potties if you aren’t near a real one.
Q: Which of the shows are the best ones to go to?
A: OK. First, lots of people refer to the individual shows as Fields, because they’re not much more than a specific field along the highway. So don’t let that throw you. This question is the toughest because we all have our own taste and each show/field has its own personality. One agenda: Blue Hills, 2 hours, Arbor, 1.5 hours, lunch and shopping at Market Hill, then Excess and NorthGate 3 hours. Another agenda: Downtown Round Top 2 hours, lunch, The Compound one hour, Warrenton 3 hours. I could go on forever. Here’s my advice: If you’ve come down from 290, drive all the way to Warrenton and then go back up to the shows that have caught your eye, and conversely if you’ve come up from 71, drive all the way up to the Big Red Barn and then go back down. You’ll have to make side trips to explore Fayetteville or Carmine and other spots, but it’s OK to keep those for your next trip.
Q: But you didn’t mention Marburger Farm.
A: You’ve been Googling! This show opens on the final Tuesday with special preview prices ($25 instead of $10 the rest of the week). BTW, pretty much all other shows are free. It is the most “retail” of all the shows, with very carefully curated and merchandised booths, a huge range of mid to high end antiques (no reproductions allowed), happy crowds, good food, clean facilities, and special events and appearances. This is the place to go if you want to check out Round Top but you think you might be happier at the Galleria Mall back home. It is fantastic.
Q: What if I actually buy something? How do I get it home?
A: If you’re driving home, dealers will hold an item until you go back to your car, drive to the field, load up and hit the road. If it won’t fit in your car or if you’d like something sent far away you can either use onsite shippers at some of the bigger shows or you can use one of shippers that sets up camp in the area. Ask your dealer for a name. For serious shoppers, I suggest filling out paperwork at a shipper like Distinguished Transport first thing. You’ll get tags to put on everything you buy and a list to write down all your purchase places. You just give the shipper at the end of your visit and they’ll go around the Show, pick up the tagged items on your list and bring them to one spot. Like magic!
Q: And most importantly, what should I wear?
A: The cute gals uniform is sundress and cowboy boots. In fact, that signature look adds to the overall wonder of the place, so please do wear it if it sounds like you. If not, I suggest natural fibers, layers, hats, sunscreen, big earrings, a little backpack type bag and PRACTICAL shoes. My own style is a low key version of the above (I think I get better prices that way but then again I’ve never tried a flirty sundress). Men, a t-shirt and cargo shorts are perfect — that way you can stash the water bottles for yourself and your date!
Q: But I don’t really like antiques.
A: Ooh, good one. The Show has evolved into so much more than an antique festival. Furniture manufacturers for stores like Restoration Hardware can be found in many of the fields. There are endless booths selling clothes and jewelry. And almost every field includes booths selling new, unused merchandise like modern art (encaustics are big right now), fabric, mirrors, rugs, bed linens, garden decor… And if you find yourself a complete non-shopper who’s been dragged along by your pushy sister-in-law, you can always sit in one place all day drinking frozen lemonade and watching the alpacas graze.
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