Junking In Round Top, Texas

Round Top is actually a small town in Texas located in Fayette County which boasts a population of less than 100. Yes, that is correct, a population of less than 100 – except for a two weeks in the spring and two weeks in the fall where the temporary population swells to over 60,000 people.

Round Top is one hour east of Austin, one and a half hours west of Houston and about four hours south of Dallas.

Round Top and several surrounding towns come to life during the last week of April and the first week of May for the Spring Show and then again during the last week of September and the first week of October for the Fall Show.

Ms. Emma Lee Turney

The Round Top Antique Show was started by Ms. Emma Lee Turney in the late 1960s when she was asked to do an Antique Show in a small town that was quietly reinventing itself as the Antique and Craft Capital of Texas (maybe even the world). The first show was held in the Round Top Rifle Association Hall. The show remained small but quickly became a social event for Houston socialites to enjoy the beauty of the beginning of the Texas Hill Country. Houston and Austin homeowners flocked to Round Top in the spring to enjoy the countryside with the bluebonnets in full bloom and were able to shop “country style” with some of the best antique dealers in the area.

Bluebonnets – The State Flower of Texas

As time went on, the show grew and spread into the surrounding towns. You’ll find plenty of open air vendors before you even get to Round Top now. The shopping starts at La Bahia and continues in Carmine, Shelby and on through Warrenton. It is no longer just one show (Round Top Antiques Fair – which was still owned by Ms. Turney until a few years ago) but is now more than 35 separate shows (or fields) throughout the area. It is no longer just a long weekend of antique shopping but it is now almost three weeks in some of the fields along Hwy 237

It is a sight to see and it is still amazing to me as I drive up and down the hills on HWY 237. All the people, all the STUFF and all the big top tents. If you have never been, be prepared to be overwhelmed! You can’t do the entire thing in a weekend. I recommend you do a little research and some preplanning. Below is a list to most of the fields/shows in the area.

 List of Shows – www.antiqueweekend.com

Instead of just antiques as was the original show, now you’ll find anything from $1 table deals to clothes, farm implements, plants, crafts, original art work, architectural pieces and just about anything else you can imagine.

When you come, wear comfy walking shoes (you will walk for miles), layered clothes (it can be 35 degrees in the morning and 90 by afternoon), something to carry all your treasures with, cash (but lots of vendors do take credit cards – if they can get a signal to take the card), water and your shopping list. I also recommend that you make lodging arrangements before you come.

This is the 47^th year for Round Top. I’ll be at Tree Park (the last field coming out of Warrenton) – Hope to see you this fall.