Those of you that have never experienced Antique Alley might appreciate some local information that hopefully will make your treasure hunt more enjoyable and safe. If possible, plan to spend the entire weekend with us! One day just doesn't allow enough time to experience this unique event! Local bed & breakfasts, hotels and RV parks fill up quickly, so you'll want to make your arrangements early. Click on the Accommodations link for more information. The Antique Alley shopping trail is very scenic and even breathtaking in places. It is a road with sharp curves, twists and "hilly" turns that can prove to be very distracting for those unfamiliar with the route. Traffic is naturally heavy during the Antique Alley event. Extreme caution is recommended while driving the shopping route. Do not park on the highway at all. The Texas Department of Public Safety will issue tickets for violations. Be aware that this is a safety issue. Participating landowners should provide parking in their pastures. The route is a two-lane farm-to-market road and sections have no shoulder. Do not park on the shoulder, or any part of the highway. Antique Alley always occurs on the 3rd Friday, Saturday and Sunday every April and September. The only time this schedule may vary is when there is a conflict with Easter. In this case, each participating community and private landowners would make the decision as to when to schedule their show. Click on the Calendar link for future show dates. Portable restroom facilities are provided in all the downtown areas and at many of the private landowner shows and sales. The historic downtown sections are worth a visit where you will find a variety of antique stores, gift shops and restaurants. There are sidewalk sales, farmers markets, antique & collectible dealers, food vendors and unique art & craft displays including a mix of yard sales and fund-raisers. Some of the folks out on the highway conduct top notch antique and collectible shows attracting dealers and guests from all over the United States. Also, if you like junk, rummage sales, church fund-raisers and bake sales then you won't be disappointed. There is no telling what might turn up for sale during Antique Alley! In many places you'll find live music, many festival-style food choices and an occasional classic car or tractor display along the way. Dress for comfort because you will do a lot of walking. Texas weather is unpredictable. Wear layers, a hat and bring sunscreen. Many of the landowner shows are held on beautiful, shaded property but that Texas sun can still bring on the burn! Map your treasure hunt in advance! From the Home page, click the link to get directions to Antique Alley. If you see an item that you did not purchase, but wish that you had, check AntiqueAlleyTexas.com and click on the Vendor link to see if they have a vendor listing. Mention to the vendors that you saw them on AntiqueAlleyTexas.com. Some vendors will add bonuses to purchased items, or additional discounts if they know their advertising dollars are working for them. Antique Alley happens through the efforts of many different groups of volunteers. Although the Chambers of Commerce and Cities support this community event by helping to advertise, they do not entirely sponsor or host the event. The Antique Alley event is possible through advertising dollars collected from food vendors and dealer space rentals. Any participating business or individual profiting from this event should consider helping to advertise. You could advertise your show in conjunction with Antique Alley or contact your local Chamber of Commerce for more information on how you can help promote the event. We hope you enjoy visiting our "neck-of-the-woods" and shopping the Antique Alley Trail! |