WOW! What FUN!!!

Yesterday was the first Michigan Antiques Festival at the Midland State Fairgrounds for 2010. It was their 42nd year and it was a GREAT one! There are two more dates coming up (July 24-25 and September 25-26)-so mark your calendars!! You won't want to miss out until next year!

It's about an hour and a half drive for us, but I think we would all agree that it was worth the trip! This is the third year for Auntie, Eric and I. Pam (a treasure seeker friend from work) joined us for the first time and she seemed to really enjoy herself as well.

We got there at about quarter after ten, and it was backed up all the way down the exit ramp. I've never seen it that crowded before. I was surprised how many people where there so early this year.  Usually we get a pretty close parking spot-this time we were way out there! Thank goodness for the free trolley ride from the entrance to the parking area-especially when it's time to leave and you've shopped til you are about to drop!!

We took Auntie's granny cart and a couple of big shopping bags I got at Marshall's to go inside. Eric was the chief cart pusher and did an awesome job! I think he's turning into a treasure hunter in training! He actually likes to go garage saling with me, and to antique shows and stores-not all the time, but if he doesn't have anything else to do-he is usually right beside me!

It doesn't hurt that he usually gets free food out of the deal too-and yesterday was no exception with our traditional Italian sausage lunch, lemonade refresher, kettle corn and then a banana cream pie shake at Sonic on the way home.

 We were so hungry, we forgot to take a picture of our lunch until it was almost gone!

Fresh squeezed! When it's 89 degrees outside-this really hits the spot!

Here are just some random shots of the fairgrounds...

 We saw LOTS of interesting things, and we bought a few fun treasures! We were glad to see some of our favorite vendors had returned-especially the kettle corn guys!!! We left around 3:30 and had to sit in a long line just to get on the expressway to go home, but it was well worth it. The Weather Channel was calling for cloudy, overcast weather with a high in the upper 60's to the low 70's...when we got back in the car, the thermometer read 89!! We all got some sun, and I think we were all tired and worn out.

I don't know if I will go back in July or not. I'm thinking I might wait and go in September instead and enjoy more local sales between now and then. Not because I didn't enjoy it, I REALLY did! It was worth the anticipation for sure...but because it is such a long drive, and I've been finding such good treasures at local garage sales.


These were my treasures...

A Manhattan divided platter and bowl set.

A Fiesta Lemongrass 15" pizza tray.

A medium oval Fiesta Lemongrass platter.

2 glass lady bug garden stakes.

And 2 giant bags of kettle corn...when you have 2 teenage sons...it doesn't last long enough to get a picture of both bags!!

A prince of a day-for sure!!