Vintage Fair attracts pickers and collectors
Some of the vendors will bring handmade items like leather handbags, hand-woven rugs and jewelry. Others will bring items they’ve discovered and reimagined into a new purpose, like galvanized tubs and buckets, gardening items and tools, granite ware, up-cycled signs, planters, and pallets.
If you’ve never attended the Walnut Creek Vintage Fair, you may be a bit stunned at the enormity of the annual sale of antique, handmade and repurposed items. This year is the sixth annual Vintage Fair and the second to be spread over two days.
It will take place June 28-29 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no admission charge, and parking throughout the village is free.
“We have a lineup of 48 vendors set for this year,” organizer Amy Yoder of Coblentz Chocolates said. “So you should be able to find just about anything you may be looking for.”
Some of those vendors will bring handmade items like leather handbags, hand-woven rugs and jewelry. Others will bring items they’ve discovered and reimagined into a new purpose, like galvanized tubs and buckets, gardening items and tools, granite ware, up-cycled signs, planters, and pallets. And there will be plenty of dealers in antique and unexpected treasures including popular quilts and furniture.
“The rug weaver is new this year,” Yoder said. “We’re pretty excited about that and others who are new to the Vintage Fair.”
The Walnut Creek Vintage Fair is one of the most popular events on the Amish country summer calendar.
“Oh yes,” Yoder said, “absolutely. Last year there were more than 7,000 people in Walnut Creek for the Vintage Fair. And it’s big with tourists but also very popular with local people who live nearby. They are usually out there early before the 7 a.m. open, ready to go and get first pick.”
Seven food trucks will make sure no one misses breakfast or lunch either day. “Many of the food trucks offer breakfast as well,” Yoder said. “We’ll have Amish Country Donuts, Rosemary’s rice bowls, Byler’s Barbecue with pork breakfast and lunch sandwiches, kettle corn, Amish Country Rolled Cream ice cream sandwiches and others. There will be plenty to eat those two days.”
There is no need to worry about the weather in this exceptionally wet summer. Yoder said the entire Vintage Fair is under a large tent.
Yoder had some advice for those attending this year. “Be sure to bring cash, first of all. Many of the vendors do take debit and credit cards, but many do not. There’s an ATM machine in the village if anyone needs it. Be prepared to buy what you like. Don’t pass something by and think you’ll return to get it later, as it may well be gone. And for the same reason, it’s a good idea to come Friday if you can, as some of the vendors sell out everything they have rather quickly.”
Yoder said those who are big fans of the “American Pickers” television show or who love to do garage sales will be right at home at Walnut Creek Vintage Fair. “You really never know what to expect or what you will find. The whole thing changes from year to year with new vendors and different things for sale. I think that’s why it is so popular. It’s about finding the unexpected.”
Mark off Friday and Saturday, June 28-29 for the Walnut Creek Vintage Fair and be ready to find items for your home or garden.
Walnut Creek is on state Route 39 between Sugarcreek and Millersburg.