Want to go?
WHAT: Olde Stark Antique Faire
WHEN: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 & 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14
WHERE: Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave., NW Canton
COST: $4 per person or $5 for a two-day pass; children 12 and under get in free
INFO: 330-794-9100
For those of us who watch “American Pickers,” the idea of exploring one man’s hoarders-like garage for dusty relics of yesteryear is tantamount to an Indiana Jones adventure.
However, not many folks allow strangers to peruse their life’s work, which is where the notion of the flea market comes in. Still, the needle-in-the-haystack approach of the latter can grow tiresome.
What to do? Well, for nearly a quarter of a century the Olde Stark Antique Faire, which this year takes place Oct 13 at the Stark County Fairgrounds in Canton, has been the place for pickers and deal-seekers to find their treasures.
Funcoast talked to Old Stark Antique Faire Promoter & Show Manager Barb Garduno about this popular Northern Ohio event.
Funcoast: Describe for us the Olde Stark Antique Faire.
Barb Garduno (BG): We’ve been there quite a while. It’s a nice small regional show. It’s something for everybody. It’s not an upscale, high-end show like Pappabello shows used to be, but we do have nice things. It’s a large indoor show featuring over 100 dealers and collectors. It’s antiques and collectables. We have nostalgia collectables of every description – from fine heirlooms to folk art. We have antique furniture, pottery, porcelain, crystal, clocks, quilts, linens, lamps, postcards, old toys and dolls. We have militaria, sports memorabilia, coins, vintage clothing and jewelry. There’s a lot of wonderful kitchen wear and a lot of vintage jewelry at this show. We do five of these shows a year.
Funcoast: What sort of attendance does the Olde Stark Antique Faire enjoy?
BG: I would say we’ll probably on Saturday, our biggest day, we’ll get 1,500 and on Sunday 1,000. People come about because they know where they can get a bargain. I have a girl who sells linens, tablecloths, dishtowels from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. You can buy a linen dishtowel for $1. Some of these are brand-new, never been used. She gets them from estate sales. The old people never used their good stuff and now they’re dying off and all of this stuff is coming on the market. The new stuff made today – I hate to say – most of it isn’t any good.
Funcoast: Do you think the Olde Stark Antique Faire can get bigger?
BG: Well, it actually was larger back in the ‘90s. We used two buildings then. The show was bigger and attendance was bigger. I had a lot more antique furniture because the dealers carried it but now the dealers don’t want to handle such heavy furniture anymore.
Funcoast: Finally, for those who have never experienced the Olde Stark Antique Faire, what are they missing?
BG: Well, it just depends on what they’re looking for. A lot of collectors come to our show. New people should come too if they’re looking to furnish their house, looking for old yard art and looking for bargains. Our show is a bargain. Everything there is priced right.
Olde Stark Antique Faire takes place at the Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave., NW Canton. Admission is $4 per day or $5 for a two-day pass. Children 12 and under are free. Call 330-794-9100.
