Rockin’ out in Round Top
We moved around a lot when I was a little. I was a latchkey kid, and I spent a lot of time home alone in a lot of different houses. It made me very particular about my space. We were light on cash but rich in love. I distinctly remember using moving boxes as a dresser in our first apartment in San Diego, and I colored and construction papered the sides to make it mine, and pretty. I had so much fun decorating my college apartments on the cheap, but buying my first house was like heaven. Hunting for beautiful and unique things on the cheap is one of my favorite past times. I love finding unique, affordable, beautiful, vintage pieces at flea markets and antique stores. Like every good Texas girl and any student of branding and empire building, I became obsessed with the Chip and Joanna Gaines. I learned about the world famous bi-annual antique fair in Round Top Texas watching “Fixer Upper.” Somehow I’d never even heard of the tiny town 90 minutes from where I grew up. I had no idea antique heaven was a place in the hill country. I’d tried to make arrangements to go several times but work commitments and life kept getting in the way.
I finally realized that my need to hunt cool objects was about finding and sharing them, I didn’t need to keep them. Not having a home means I don’t NEED anything, but I still want to look around. I agreed to do some decorating for friends across the country- but we hadn’t started yet and I was flying so I couldn’t justified a trip for that. I’d been toying with the idea of selling cool fun (small) things I found on the road to help fund my adventures. My tax person loved the idea and so did my treasure hunting heart. A quick google search showed that the town was ripe with treasures and rich in bluebonnets. I figured if the market sucked, I’d at least get to snap some photos of my favorite flowers and call it a good day. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
The show that started the shindig, the Big Red Barn.
Here’s the deal. When you google Round Top Antique Fair, this Big Red Barn event is the first thing that comes up. I didn’t know what I was doing, so I just tried to wing it. I bought the more expensive ($20) preview ticket with limited capacity and early access thinking that it would be the most covid safe way to see this big awesome 50 year old antique fair that goes on for the days posted on the website.
I’m not going to lie, it was awful. It was expensive grandma stuff you could barely see through the wall to wall masses of people. All advertised mentions of social distancing and limited numbers were a total crock and it was a miserable cattle call through things only Emily Gilmore could want or afford. I picked up a $700 trashcan. I wish I was kidding. I thought the whole day was going to be a bust. I had seen on social media that House of Golightly, an Etsy shop I had loved for a decade was there and I scoured that building looking for her iconic Press for Champagne buttons. A quick social media stalk later and I realized she was at some place called Zapp Hall. A few questions later, I learned the whole stretch of two lane highway between several small towns was stuffed full of vendors and pop-ups in fields and farms. Just drive and pull over if something catches your eye. Zapp Hall was several towns away, I was definitely far from where I wanted to be, but that’s never stopped me before.
Blue Hills was perfect. Outdoors, spaced out, a full range of interesting things, and where I made my first Curated Confections purchases.
I got in my car and started heading towards Warrenton. Blue Hills was the very next antique fair, it caught my eye and set my soul ablaze. This show had something for everyone and was really well organized and curated. I found this kitschy cool shop called The Odditorium from Denver and picked up the kissing brass door knockers, brothel keys and tokens. Everything made me smile and was cool, unique, and easily shipped from my suitcase. Let the adventure begin!
I will say, if you’re expecting a flea market experience, there are really only a couple of vendors along the highway that feel that way. This is some bougie antiquing. The food trucks and frozé fuel the ladies in sundresses, cowboy boots, and Gucci bags. They came to play, but they will cut a b*tch that gets between them and the $4,000 chippy dresser they are eyeing.
After several stops and some excellent conversations with vendors over two days- here’s what I learned and want to share:
There are only 2 ticketed events- The Big Red Barn and Marburger Farm. Both are beautiful and well attended, but for bigger ticket items.
The Big Red Barn gets top billing as the founding show, but each individual field/venue is run like an independently operated antique mall. Everything else is completely free and open to attend.
They all keep different dates and hours. Most of these other vendors are out 2-3 weeks before the advertised dates of the two big ticketed shows.
Big retailers like Pottery Barn, famous designers (like the Gaines) go early and pack shipping containers and warehouses full of stuff before the tourists come.
By the time you get to the advertised dates, most everything is picked through, the vendors are tired and ready to go, and the Sunday brunch crowd is pushy and pisses everyone off. A friendly smile and conversation goes a long way and these seasoned vets will tell you everything you want to know to get the most of your experience, learn the most about what you’re looking for, and share their wisdom on anything you could possibly want to know.
Most of the vendors take cards, but cash will still get you the best deals and simplify your experience.
Prices are pretty much full retail. Don’t think you’ll be flipping much of what you buy here. I did find a couple vendors with some things with a LITTLE margin, but I walked away from a LOT of booths thinking “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?”
Local chefs are doing pop up restaurants and fun evening events when the markets close. Do some research and make reservations to really maximize your visit.
There is live music, local food, art exhibits, and plenty of fun stuff for the whole family to explore.
These are tiny little towns, if you want to come and make a week of it- make your reservations way in advance for lodging. There are a lot of camper accommodations if the RV thing is your speed.
I only scratched the surface in two exhaustive days of shopping. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and don’t even pretend like you’ll get to see it all.
The marketer in me desperately wants to create an Antique union and do group marketing for all of these independent vendors. It is truly a travesty that they can’t get it together and clearly market what this event really is.
This is the olympics of rustic retail. Don’t come thinking you’re going to power shop for a few days and dominate. It’s best to come with a few specific things to look for, and you can be way more efficient if you stalk the vendors in advance. RoundTop.Com is really helpful, and be sure to pick up the magazine from one of the vendors so you can game plan your days.
I don’t think I would plan a whole week for Roundtop, I don’t know how anyone would survive full crazy days here- but if you fly into Austin, out of Houston, and stay for a couple days- you would have one helluva fun trip to Texas. I absolutely plan on going back, if you love the thrill of the hunt- this is your place!
Future Dates:
Fall Antiques Show | Thursday, October 14 - Sunday, October 31
2022 Winter Antiques Show | Thursday, January 20 - Sunday, January 23
Spring 2022 Antiques Show | March 17 - April 3, 2022
Fall 2022 Antiques Show | October 13 - October 30, 2022
Favorite Vendors:
Blue Hills was spectacular. I didn’t buy anything but I loved everything I looked at and every vendor I chatted with.
The Compound had a beautiful art installation, great live music, tons of excellent food vendors, and a nice mix of retailers in beautiful spaces. Plus clean and air-conditioned bathrooms, this is not something to take lightly.
Market Hill is open year round and had the most ecclectic mix of vendors. There was a gorgeous garden shop, the most amazing neon signs, beautiful french antiques, and a food hall that smelled heavenly. It had such an incredible atmosphere and a big ol’ pile of bluebonnets out back.
Junky Gypsy: yes it’s touristy and has more souvenirs than antiques, but it is a beautifully curated space. I even went back the second night to catch a free Drake White acoustic set. I sat on a hay bale and drank a paloma from the cutest trailer bar. The big patch of bluebonnets in front of their barn yielded my favorite jumping photo to date. Their neighbor, Gasoline Hill & Antiques , a top notch gas/oil memorabilia shop, had the most beautiful mix of wildflowers and some very happy butterflies. It’s definitely worth a stop.
Bull Market is vintage door and antique furniture heaven. I could have spent DAYS in here. I snap photos of pretty portals everywhere I go, and I probably took a couple hundred pics in this barn. It was INCREDIBLE. The doors were thousands of dollars, but gorgeous.
Bader Ranch was not my favorite stop, those “top notch European antiques” they advertised did not do anytihing for me. However, they had the biggest patch of bluebonnets I saw all spring, and they were directly across the street from a farm that had longhorns grazing in the wild flowers. It was totally worth a stop just for that.
Zapp Hall is artsy and funky and fun. Lots of affordable finds and a great mix of junk to sift through.
Punkie’s Place across the street is optical candy. It is so bright and funky and fun. It’s like the kitschiest Mexican restaurant exploded in the best kind of way. Don’t skip the mansion or pavilion.
Excess Field (on both sides of the highway) was a nice and eclectic stop. The vendors here were all really happy to teach you more about what you are looking at. I got a lot of great hat pins from Wretched Excess and Antiques by Joseph is where I found 80% of my pin/broach inventory. He is one of the main suppliers for my favorite shop in Austin, Uncommon Objects, and I had a wonderful time hunting through his bins and chatting with him.
Bar W is the most like the Nashville Flea Market. I was really overwhelmed by the amount of vendors, but it was a nice stroll.
The Hill Country is home to the best displays of bluebonnets. I snapped some of my favorite photos of my favorite flowers this week. Even if I hadn’t had a marvelous time exploring the vendors and fields, I’d have been fully satisfied by the floral sites. Spring break was too early and summer break was too late, it was always hard to time a visit to these beauties. They make me so unbelievably happy. Bluebonnet stalking is the very best part of being home in April, besides cuddles with Koby :)
