Texas Antiques Week Recap - Fall 2020
Texas Antiques Week was back this Fall, and I was lucky enough to go to Warrenton and Round Top three times to visit some of my favorite vendors, and browse some beautiful treasures. A couple of years ago I wrote this blog post about Texas Antiques Week and today I wanted to share some new finds with you.
In case you didn’t know, three times a year (Fall, Winter & Spring) more than 100,000 people arrive along the 25 mile road between Warrenton and Round Top, Texas, for Texas Antiques Week to shop more than 4000 antique, collector, decor, and fashion vendors in about 85 venues in barns, dance halls, under tents, and in fields. Dependent on where you search, you can find anything from high end European furniture to handmade crafts. For an avid thrifter like me, it is the ultimate dream!
This year, I was lucky enough to go LIVE on Miss Mustard Seed’s Facebook page to showcase some of my favorite areas in Round Top. You can see those videos on their Facebook page, and please enjoy some pictures from my trips this Fall below.
But first, some recommendations:
Arrive early. Highway 237 (one lane road that runs through Warrenton and Round Top) can get backed up quickly.
Wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dirty as most of the make-shift venues are in the middle of cow pastures.
Wear a crossbody bag for easy access to your valuables.
Bring a large tote to carry water, snacks and smaller purchases in. The Texas heat can get to you and it is important to stay hydrated.
Some people find it helpful to roll wagons around to help with the larger items.
Bring plenty of cash for parking, purchases and food. Most vendors also accept checks. The internet connections aren't always reliable which means the credit card machines don't always work.
Make friends with vendors. Most of the show vendors are very friendly and will help tell the story of the piece you are buying. The vendor world is also very small, and so chances are they will know of a vendor with a similar style for you to visit.
Bring a tape measurer with dimensions of spaces in your home that you are looking for.
We always like to go on the last day, because most vendors are willing to negotiate with you so they don't have to bring as many items home.
Some of my favorite places at Texas Antiques Week:
Round Top
You will have to drive to your venues in Round Top because they are spread out. Some of my favorite venues in Round Top are:
BIG RED BARN: The Big Red Barn is a great venue to visit at the beginning of the day. They are only open the last week of the show, and there is a cover charge. But, the vendors have beautiful items that are very well curated. It is so much fun looking at all of their treasures. The venue is also air controlled which is great for the Texas heat, and they have good bathrooms. They also have shippers on site if you find a treasure that doesn’t fit in your car. The style is true, high quality American antiques. Their continental tents on-site that are also air controlled have higher end European antiques.
My husband and I especially love visiting The Big Red Barn to see the Country Accents Antiques booth. They have some beautiful vintage general store pieces. This is where we purchased our kitchen island from.
Enjoy some pictures below of the wonderful treasures I found at Big Red Barn.
BLUE HILLS: The next stop was Blue Hills in Round Top. They recently added some new buildings and new vendors, and it is definitely a must see! The buildings are beautiful in their own right, but they also house some fantastic treasures during the show.
Two of my favorite vendors this Fall were Kim Hoegger Home and Leftovers Antiques. Kim Hoegger’s booth had such a beautiful variety. I actually found my favorite piece at her booth. Leftovers Antiques has a brick and mortar store in Brenham, Texas (just down the road), and has such a beautiful aesthetic. Their booth was so well setup and I was admiring every corner. Primitive American antiques with gorgeous patinas. Definitely my style, and you can enjoy some fun pieces from their space below.
MARBURGER FARM: Marburger Farm is definitely one to see. Just like Big Red Barn, Marburger Farm charges an admission fee and is the last week of Texas Antiques Week. Their large venue takes the hassle out of the hunt. The majority of the pieces available are beautiful and it is all so well displayed and curated. It is a wonderful place for inspiration, because I do find a lot of prices a bit steep.
Warrenton
Warrenton is full of many treasures, but you have to dig for them. I love the variety and sheer amount of treasures that Warrenton has to offer. Here are some of my favorite venues in Warrenton:
COLE’S ANTIQUE SHOW: With over 250 antique vendors, I like to start my Warrenton adventure at Cole’s Antique Show. I like to start here because they have free parking and good bathrooms. The building is also air controlled, and houses some really fun vendors that come year after year. I especially love all of the vintage kitchen items and tools as well as the art pieces as you can see below.
EXCESS FIELD: Excess field in Warrenton offers a variety of vintage items from fun and funky to mid-century modern to french country. One of my favorite vendors at Excess 1 is Jacob with Industrial Light, because he has some wonderful architectural pieces and vintage sinks. I have purchased several Eastlake doors from him, and they are all one-of-a-kind. And, can we please talk about the amazing pink sink that he found? Please see all of the fun below.
After Excess Field, I like to walk through the different tents throughout Warrenton to see what deals and treasures I can find.
If you don't find any antiques to take home, you will certainly enjoy the beautiful landscape and charming atmosphere of Round Top and Warrenton. I hope you enjoyed this fun recap of Fall 2020 Texas Antiques Week. Until next time, Happy Thrifting!
