You Have to See This Texas-Sized Flea Market to Believe It

For many Texans, a relaxing weekend with friends in the country involves a unique kind of retail therapy. Die-hard shoppers from Houston, Austin, and as far away as Dallas make a mass pilgrimage to the towns of Washington County, Texas, for what is simply referred to as “Round Top.” This massive antiques fair will take place this weekend (Oct. 1-4) at over 50 separate show sites with more than 3,000 dealers.

The city of Round Top, Texas (Photo: bugflickr/Flickr)

The Round Top Antiques Fair started almost 50 years ago in the German-speaking town of Round Top, Texas. Today, it’s no longer just one show but has become a biannual two-week event that stretches over five towns: Carmine, Shelby, Round Top, Warrenton, and Fayetteville. The result is a retail “happening” that combines both serious antiques with flea market finds.

The Round Top experience can be overwhelming for the uninitiated. With thousands of dealers in buildings and tents spread over almost 30 miles of country highway and open fields, it is tough to know where to go. We surveyed veteran show visitors and dealers to get their top 10 tips on how to “do” Round Top. Here is what they told us:

1. Come early and leave early to avoid the crowds. Take Highway 290 and exit onto Route 237 at Burton. Highway 290 is a well-traveled road between Houston and Austin, and both cities are approximately 90 minutes by car from the heart of the action. The show sites start outside Carmine, Texas, and follow along Route 237 south. Parking, especially on Saturday and Sunday, is a challenge. It would be a good idea to get there before the gates of your first show site opens to claim your spot. Alternatively, there is a trolley service that will allow you to travel to and from 17 different stops in the Round Top Area, including three Park & Ride lots. This map is a great way to plan your route.

Related: Giddyup: State Fairs You Need to See This Year

Bargain hunters come from all over Texas for the Round Top Antiques Fair (Photo: Antique Weekend/Facebook)

2. Be prepared for any weather: Round Top has a history of taking place on rainy weekends or on scorching hot ones. Veteran visitors come equipped with umbrellas, sun hats, sunscreen, and water bottles. Most wear rubber boots to navigate the muddy cow fields where some of their favorite vendor tents are located.

3. Bargain hunters need to be patient and willing to explore. There is something for everyone in all price ranges. Every show site has its own personality and style, so be willing to explore. If you don’t see what you like, move on to the next; chances are no matter how many days you plan to be at Round Top, you will never see it all, so be choosy. Your special treasure is waiting to be discovered.

Mary Daly, founder of the Fabulous Flea now at Twenty Six Twenty in Houston, had a stall at Marburger Farm for almost 10 years. She says if you have the patience and a hankering for what she calls the “thrill of the hunt,” then take to the fields and explore tents behind the more established building sites. These tents are filled with unedited merchandise that requires patience and persistence, which Mary says “makes it a little like playing golf, which is fun to play but will take most of the day.” Her favorite show site is Arbors Antiques, which she says has a well-edited collection that is “a little bit of everything wonderful.”

Related: Haggling After Dark: The World’s Best Night Markets

Some great finds at the Round Top Antiques Fair (Photo: Antique Weekend/Facebook)

4. The more curated the show, the more serious the prices. The more established sites are in the air-conditioned buildings like Big Red Barn, Blue Hills, and Marburger Farm just outside Round Top. These are serious, high-end antique vendors that are not always as bargain-hunter friendly as the white tents that spill over into the cow pastures surrounding Warrenton, but you will find they have a well-curated inventory of unique treasures.

5. Be ready to haggle. Dealers have a sixth sense for the first-time visitor and will drive a harder bargain with a timid shopper. Don’t be afraid to haggle, especially in the tents. Sunday afternoon is the best time for finding a bargain, as vendors try to lighten their load for the trip home.

6. Stay at the Prairie B&B for an authentic experience. Established by British designer Rachel Ashwell, this bed and breakfast is a showcase for her Shabby Chic couture furniture and housewares designs. It is located 5 miles outside Round Top.

Shabby Chic Couture by Rachel Ashwell (Photo: The Prairie)

7. The farther you drive, the better your chances. Vendor merchandise and prices tend to get less expensive as you head south on Route 237. The towns of Warrenton and Fayetteville are home to some favorite bargain-hunter’s haunts. Here you will find less-established dealers with funkier merchandise that are new to the scene and better opportunities for finding a deal.

Claire Smith, owner of Shade and Canopy Restaurants in Houston, likes to shop at the tents in the fields behind Excess in Warrenton for more contemporary midcentury furniture finds, metalwork, and sculpture that she uses to express her own style both at home and at her restaurants.

8. Splurge for a private hacienda at the Inn at Dos Brias. This luxury ranch retreat is located about a 30 minutes’ drive from the Route 237 exit, where all the show activity begins. It is an incredible resort experience; however, it’s so nice you might never make it to the shows.

9. Fresh-baked pie and German home cooking are the best things to eat. Royers Round Top Café, located on the town square of Round Top, is famous for its pies and is a favorite place to take a break from the shows. For authentic Texas-German home cooking, be sure to make time for a meal at the Burton Café. Enjoy a full breakfast of German pancakes and sausage on your way to the tents or a delicious wiener schnitzel for dinner on the drive home.

A pecan pie from Royers Round Top Café (Photo: Royers Round Top Café)

10. Start planning your next visit the day you get home. Anyone who comes for the first time will leave feeling like they ran out of time before seeing all they had intended to. The day you go home is the best time to book those hard-to-find accommodations for the next Round Top visit.

WATCH: Scrap metal dealer finds Faberge Egg at Antique Fair:

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