Forget the yard sales or the jaunts through the countryside for the obscure antique shop.
Whether you are a high-end collector or an amateur who just knows what you like when you see it there will be something for everyone at the 35th annual Round Lake Antiques Festival.
The festival will run Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Billed as the Capital District’s largest and most popular antiques and collectibles show, the festival also serves as an important fundraiser for the Round Lake Library.
There are new and interesting dealers coming in from all over, said Judy Allman of Allman Promotions, LLC. More than 200 exhibitors will be setting up their wares on the parks and greens of the village of Round Lake. Allman said items offered by the exhibitors will include furniture, china, jewelry, toys, folk art, vintage clothing, and oriental art.
`There are a lot of really good things coming in and all antique,` Allman said.
Allman estimates that about half the exhibitors are regulars who return year after year but she said this year a number of new exhibitors will be coming from great distances. While many will travel throughout the Northeast for the festival, Allman said others are coming from much farther away with exhibitors registered from Pennsylvania to Florida.
`The vendors come from afar but the buyers come from all over as well,` she said.
Since admission to the festival is free, Allman said there is no official head count for the number of shoppers that show up each of the two days, but estimates that more than 10,000 people will have browsed the exhibits by closing time Sunday night.
`Buyers will not be disappointed,` she said. `It’s a virtual treasure hunt. We’ll have very fresh merchandise at good prices.` For people who are more into restoring a home rather than filling that space, Allman suggested those people will want to make the trip for the architectural items that some exhibitors will have available.
While there will be limited paid parking available in the immediate vicinity, Allman suggests buyers park at The Malta Mall on Round Lake Road, west of I-87 Exit 11 and across from Chango Elementary School, and take the free shuttle that is provided. Regular buyers will know to bring canvas bags or backpacks with them to hold all of their smaller finds. For the larger items, there is a pick-up area where you can drive within close proximity to the festival to load big items into your vehicle. Those who choose to use the shuttle will find that it regularly returns to the parking lot for easy access in and out of the festival, but for those who choose to make a day of it, Allman said there is more than enough good food and drink available at affordable prices.
`This is a historic little town with its own character and personality,` said Allman of the Village of Round Lake, adding, `which makes it fun to shop.`
`The Round Lake Antiques Festival is a Round Lake tradition,` said Susan Stratton. `This will be the 35th year. It is a big benefit for the library.`
While walking the small streets of the Village of Round Lake, you might miss the library located at 31 Wesley Ave. It remains housed in the quaint Victorian home where it was first established in 1897. The library serves the entire town of Malta. The Women’s Round Lake Improvement Society (WRLIS) is responsible for the administration, maintenance, and financial support of the Round Lake Library.
The group started out as `the kerosene club,` and in a nod to its history, WRLIS is inviting the community to join the village residents in a `Night of Illumination.` Beginning at 9 p.m., the bells will ring in the bell tower and residents will hang lit Chinese lanterns on their front doors. It is a 120-year-old tradition, said Stratton. Additional community events will be taking place in the recently refurbished Round Lake Auditorium.
For information, go to www.allmanpromotions.com and click on the Round Lakes Antique Festival link.
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