Unique shopping experience at Antiques in the Alley
By Patricia Faulhaber
July 28, 2011
331
Saturdays in downtown Millersburg are always busy, with visitors and residents alike shopping the stores and having lunch in local restaurants. One Saturday in particular during the late summer is usually busier than others. This summer, that Saturday is August 6, when the Antiques in the Alley outdoor antique show will line the sidewalks and alleyways that stretch throughout town, and fill the courthouse lawn.
Many stores will be offering special sales at the back door of their location or in the parking lots. Shoppers will find the event loaded with unique items for sale and bargains by vendors and area businesses.
This is the only time of the year that shoppers can go in the back door and out the front door of many of the businesses in Historic Downtown Millersburg, said Caren Starr, owner of the Starlight Antiques store.
This is our seventh year that we have co-coordinated the show with the Historic Downtown Millersburg. It is a great outdoor antique show that runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
According to Starr, there will be vendors who specialize in garden decor and accents. Crafters and antique vendors will be set up on the courthouse lawn and along Court Street Alley. Collectibles dealers will be set up on both sides of the street along the three blocks of Jackson Street. Millersburg Humane Society will offer treasures in the alley behind the courthouse and the proceeds will go to help support the humane society. Other items of interest include furniture, folk art, salvage items and art décor.
There has to be food for those shopping all day. Most of the food will be on the courthouse lawn, including Troyers Bakery, a chicken barbecue hosted by a local boy scout troop and plenty of fair-style food offerings. In addition, a bake sale is planned in front of the Antique Emporium and more food vendors will be set up in the parking lot of the village offices.
Visitors can take a break from shopping and watch pewter being spun, soaps and lotions being made, watch a vendor paint Fenton glass, or take a stroll through the Millersburg Glass Museum.
Millersburg is home to nine antique and collectibles stores, and many unique specialty stores and restaurants, all within walking distance of the event, according to Starr. Most of the stores in Historic Millersburg will be open and offering great sales inside and outside of the stores.
Visitors will find all kinds of unique items from early Victorian to shabby chic to very primitive items, Starr said. For the male shoppers, there will be a fishing collectibles vendor that the men really like to shop. One year, we had some kids set up a lemonade stand and sold lemonade.
An information booth is available for shoppers to find their way around all of the participating vendors and to help find specific vendors.
I see lots of trucks and vans load up with some really great furniture and other antiques throughout the day so I know the shopping is always good, Starr said.
For those vendors that are interested in setting up for the show, they can set up the morning of the show. Registration is recommended in order to secure a good spot and to be included in the information booth. According to Starr, there is always plenty of room and the set up fee is affordable.
Historic Millersburg has always been good about letting last minute vendors set up. If we need more room, we can just close off another alley, Star said.
