Today let’s cover the basics about Round Top.  First off, Mr. Ike {the recent hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast of Texas} did not affect the Round Top area.  The show is on, the vendors are starting to arrive, and they are hoping that you are coming to shop!!

So what, exactly, is Round Top??  First off it’s a small Texas town, population 77+, located in Fayette County.  ONE hour East of Austin, an ONE 1/2  hours West of Houston, and FOUR hours south of Dallas.  The Round Top Antique Week, as it is often called, began over thirty years ago in the Round Top Rifle Association Hall, when Miss Emma Lee Turney and her company, Antiques Productions, were asked to do an Antique Show in a little German town that was quietly being restored, Round Top, Texas.

The show quickly became a social event for Houston socialites as they retreated to charming Round Top every Spring and Fall.  The show was still small but it was the cream of the crop in quality dealers, and had the leaders and financiers of Houston buzzing.  The fresh air and country-style shopping gave the society folk a chance to let down their guard, pick for their beautiful homes, and even guzzle a Shiner or two beneath the shade trees.  {For a wonderful interview with Emma Lee Turney, and a first-hand account of the Round Top Antique Fair, click HERE}.

Round Top is no longer ONE SHOW.  Over the years it has become a 10 day event featuring 1000s of merchants spread out over four small towns: Round Top, Warrenton, Carmine and Shelby.   The Round Top Register guesses that there are now about 35 separate shows with at least 2,500 dealers.  Not to mention the surrounding fields, warehouses, and tents covering cow pastures and black tops…  **{For a map Click HERE}**

So where do you start??  Locals, weekend warriors and dealers alike all say that enjoying the town of Round Top is a great way to settle in before you start your shopping spree.  Here are a few of the local venues that make Round Top not just a lovely place to shop ~ but an enchanting way of life for 77+.

The place that I will be stopping first on our trip to Round Top next week is a little clothing boutique in the Round Top square called Butter Beans – last year I bought a darling pair of jeans there.  And, of course, Royer’s Round Top Cafe which we’ll talk about more later this week…

Let me know what I’ve missed, what you love about Round Top, and if you’ll be there.  And check back tomorrow when it will be all about Marburger Farm {the premiere shopping arena for Round Top Antique Week}.  Each day I’ll be working to add more “don’t miss” attractions at Round Top and then I’ll compile it all so that you can download it & take it with you to Texas next week!!

Click HERE for more EVENTS offering Rustic * Western * Vintage Merchandise 

** For more about Round Top Click HERE  **

{SUBSCRIBE} HERE to have the CactusCreekDaily.com BLOG
delivered straight to your E-Mailbox so that you don’t miss a thing!!

Tags: Round Top Antique Week

Posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm under Events, Love It!!, Round Top and tagged: Round Top Antique Week. Comment RSS 2.0 feed. Comments/Pings Closed.