February 2024. 

Love is in the air at Running Rabbit

Bring your sweetheart – and a coin – to Higginsville’s Running Rabbit Antiques and General Store on Valentine’s Day for the store’s annual “Be Mine” Valentine Scratch-Off Event.

Pick a Valentine when you come in, give it a good scratch with your lucky penny, and you could win one of a number of prizes. The event will occur all day during the store’s regular operating hours.
At the beginning of the month, on Feb. 4, don’t forget to swing by Running Rabbit for the store’s First Sunday, when the store is open for business from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 660-584-8818 or visit facebook.com/RunningRabbitHigginsville.

January 2024.. 

Start off the new year right at Antique Alley

Browse more than 200 booths of antique and vintage items at Antique Alley Arkansas, Jan. 5-7 at the Conway Expo Center in Conway.

The early buying day is set for Friday, Jan. 5 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), with a $10 admission rate. On Saturday, Jan. 6 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, Jan. 7 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), admission is $5. Parking for the event is free.

For more information, visit www.antiquealleyar.com.

February 2024.. 

Red Wing’s MidWinter Weekend to feature sales, social events

The Red Wing Collector Society’s MidWinter Weekend will bring enthusiasts to Des Moines for the 2024 MidWinter Weekend, Feb. 1-3 at the Holiday Inn Northwest.

The RWCS MidWinter event offers opportunities for members to come together for a weekend of buying, selling, and networking with long-time collectors as well as those new to the hobby.

MidWinter promises to give attendees a fun-filled weekend, with all sponsored activities contained under one roof – so there is no need to venture out into the cold! Guests will enjoy three days of Room Sales, Educational Seminars, Social Events, an Auction, and more! For the more adventurous types, visitors may also enjoy exploring the many antique shops in the area around the hotel.

Educational seminars on Friday, Feb. 2, will be followed by special guest speaker Tom Askjem, author, and YouTube personality will deliver the keynote address, “Below the Plains: Digging Yesteryear’s Privy Sites for Today’s Treasures.”

Askjem is a historian and archivist who has made a career of digging bottles, crocks, dish fragments and other historical items from privies mainly in the upper Midwest since 1997. The keynote will be followed by a fantastic Happy Hour and appetizers to wrap up the day.

The RWCS and Harry Lahr Auctions will present a 2024 MidWinter auction at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at the Holiday Inn. More than 200 fabulous items will be auctioned with something for everyone.

For more information, call 651-388-4004, visit www.redwingcollectors.org, or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

January 2024

Greenwood Vintage Market to host pair
of holiday, winter events

Greenwood Vintage Market in Greenwood is the place to be this holiday season for festive shopping and fun.
The merchant will host its 12 Days of Christmas sale, Dec. 26-Jan. 6. Stock up on big post-Christmas sales from vendors throughout the store.

The Summit Country Antique Show returns to the market on Jan. 27 on Greenwood’s lower level, with tables of authentic American antiques, primitive smalls, and handmades. Admission to the show is $8, and hours for the show are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 816-872-7999 or e-mail hectordog1@gmail.com. You can find more about the show on Facebook and Instagram by searching Summit Country Antique Show.

December 2023 … 

All aboard for the Midwest Train & Toy Show

Model train enthusiasts, it’s time to don your conductor hat and hop aboard the Midwest Train and Toy Show, Dec. 10.

This is the 40th year for the event.

The show, to take place at the KCI Exhibit Center in Kansas City, will feature more than 200 tables with dealers buying and selling model trains of every age and size, as well as railroad memorabilia, collectibles, and toys. Attendees also may enjoy free viewings of vintage train movies, door prizes, and free parking. Regular admission is $5 for adults (9 a.m.-2 p.m.), while children 12 and under are free. Early bird admission at 7 a.m. costs $15.

For more information about the show, e-mail steve@midamericatrainandtoyshow.com or visit www.midamericatrainandtoyshow.com.

December 2023 … 

Vaile Mansion to host Champagne and Chandeliers fundraiser

Put on your most festive holiday otfit, it’s time for the Vaile Mansion’s big Christmas fundraiser, Champagne and Chandeliers, in Independence.

The Vaile Victorian Society will host the twilight tours on Dec. 2, between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Come and enjoy the mansion’s Christmas ambience while sipping champagne and nibbling appetizers. Tour guides will be available to share the mansion’s history.
Tickets for the event are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. You can purchase tickets at Eventbrite.com.

In adddtion, the entire mansion will be decked out for the “Royal Victorian Christmas,” and open for tours Thursday-Saturday 10-4 ; Sunday 1-4 thru Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 23-25).

For more information on the fundraiser and the mansion itself, visit www.vailemansion.org.