MANSFIELD — With 100 filled spaces, organizers of the Richland County Antique Show and Flea Market are inviting guests to spend the day with them this weekend at the Richland County Fairgrounds.
“We’ve got the ladies group running the food counter. There’s restrooms. It’ll be a one-stop shop,” said co-promoter Kevin Spore, who has helped run the show since 2001 with his brother-in-law Tim Babcock.
Utilizing all three of the fairground’s major buildings, along with outside spaces, Spore said guests should be able to find just about anything.
“There is such a variety — antique furniture, glassware, books, clocks, jewelry, military collectibles, toys, action figures, lunch boxes,” Spore said. “Pretty much anything from A to Z you can find here.”
Spore said vendors will be coming in from all over the state and beyond.
“When 9/11 hit, things started to slow down, but we’re feeling really positive about this year,” he said. “We keep track of our numbers and they have been up.”
Spore said he and Babcock have been in business together since 1992.
“We did a toy show in ’92 in Mansfield. We were doing that four to five times a year and got to know the people at the fairgrounds really well,” he said. “So when the people who ran the antique show previously stopped doing it, they asked us to take over. We enjoy a business venture and we enjoy buying and reselling ourselves.”
The show costs $1 to get in, with those 11 years old or younger admitted free.
“It’s a great place to try and find useful items for the home and just a fun, cheap activity to do in the area,” Spore said. “Definitely if you enjoy collecting, you wouldn’t want to miss it.”
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