Things certainly have come a long way in 45 years. What started as a small show in the B&O train station in 1973, the Civic Club’s annual Antique Show has made some changes this year to adapt to the changing times. While antiques are still the major attraction of the show, new this year will be Makers of new items that have a root in tradition.
“We have found a small group of makers who will be joining us this year; a basket maker, a blacksmith, furniture maker and metalsmith, among others”, explains Jean Tumbarello, Vendor coordinator and President of the Civic Club. “Over the past few years, some of our long-time antique vendors have stopped doing the show for a number of reasons. We knew it was a good time to expand our focus to attract a new and younger shopper to the show. Not everyone gets excited about antiques but they appreciate the quality of well made, timeless craftsmanship”.
The show is always held over Autumn Glory weekend to take advantage of the large crowds of people in the county. Last year some 1700 people passed through the armory doors to shop and eat some of the good food offered at the Civic Club Café. There is an admission fee of $3 per person because the show is a fundraiser for the Civic Club. “All the proceeds from this weekend go back to the community. This year we donated $12,000 back to non-profits within the Garrett County community – all from money we made at last year’s show”, said Tumbarello. “The three-dollar fee is good for the entire weekend. If you come on Friday, save your ticket and you can come back Saturday and Sunday without paying again. Many people will come on Friday to check out what the vendors are offering for sale and come back on Sunday to see if it is still available. Of course, you run the risk of it not being there, so if you see something you really want, it is best to buy it right away to avoid disappointment later.”
Another reason to visit the Armory during Autumn Glory weekend is the Civic Club Café. Most of the food is homemade; the recipe for the Vegetable Beef soup is about as old as the show itself and it is known county wide as being simply delicious. The chicken and dumpling soup, introduced two years ago, is also a favorite. It is made from a family recipe of Judi Merriman – the club’s First Vice President and café coordinator. New this year will be ‘walking tacos’ – tacos you can eat from a bag of Fritos!
“We pride ourselves on serving fresh food that is made with love and quality ingredients,” says Judi. “It takes a lot of team work to pull an event like this off. Club members volunteer time all weekend in the kitchen – even husbands and visiting family will come and help.”
In addition to the food, the café also offers home baked goodies – cookies, pies, cakes, buckeyes, brownies and quick breads – for sale at reasonable prices. Hot coffee is always available. The café is open during show hours.
In addition to the antique show, the club offers a chance to win a $1000 cash prize through raffle ticket sales. Tickets will be available at the event all weekend and the drawing will take place at 3pm on Autumn Glory Sunday. Winner does not need to be present to win.
Hours for the Antiques and Makers fair are Autumn Glory Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm. We hope to see you there!
