Shopkeepers in downtown Centralia are abuzz anticipating the 2016 Antique Fest on July 23 and 24. Coordinator Holly Phelps, owner of the Shady Lady antique shop, cannot wait for the crowds to come pouring in to fawn over the products from local merchants and crafters.
Taking over the block of Pine Street, the annual event will feature 30 local and out of town vendors, as well as food and special appearance by appraiser George Higby.
“It’s really a great event to have people come down and shop their local merchants and see dealers,” Phelps said. “It’s a great place for people to mingle and make memories while shopping downtown Centralia.”
The event has been a staple in downtown Centralia for 19 years, and hasn’t skipped a beat, even when sales were not as high during the economic downturn. It hasn’t stopped business owners and customers from enjoying the event.
The inspiration for the event was a given: Centralia had a thriving antique market, and the opportunity to bring in tourism and support the local community could not be passed up.
To Phelps, the dedication of the whole community is the key to Antique Fest’s success.
“They have to believe in the event and its integrity,” she said.
However, while tourism is always welcome, Phelps ultimately hopes that Antique Fest will strengthen the local community and economy.
“It’s our locals that keep up going,” Phelps said, “and it’s our out-of-towners that are the icing on the cake.”
Planning for the Antique Festival typically begins directly preceding the event. It was a true community effort, comprised of two coordinators assisting Phelps – Flossie Heymann (Heymann Whinery), and Sandi Walczyk (The Bath Depot), and a host of volunteers. Fortunately, because the community pooled its resources, money, and time, the event is completely paid for and advertised on a variety of channels, including radio advertisements, social media, and flyers. In fact, Walczyk even donated her advertising spot in Country Pleasures Magazine to promote the event.
“It brings attention to our downtown. It’s a tried and true event,” Walczyk said.
Yet, there is always room for expansion in coming years.
Heymann, who has owned her winery with her husband for 10 years, wants to see more vendors come to Centralia and experience the potential of the area. Although her business during Antique Fest stays the same, she wants more people to enjoy the event and “to shop and to find the little treasures that they may have not realized that they need.”
Phelps says that the products sold appeal to a wide variety of buyers, from first-time home-owners looking for vintage pieces, to classic antique hunters.
“A lot of the pieces have been repurposed or retouched with modern colors or touches to make it look more current. With antiques, either people have repurposed them or left them alone. We span from people who like to repurpose to the ‘purists.’”
Phelps hopes that with better marketing and continued support from the community, Antique Fest, and the economy of downtown Centralia, will continue to grow.
“We have a gem for our downtown. Marketing us properly would be to the benefit of the Centralia area,” Phelps said.
“We sell good quality items for fair pricing. You could be on a budget and shop resale and still not feel guilty and knowing your home is welcoming,” Phelps asserted.
The Antique Fest will begin on Saturday, July 23, from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and continue on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. For more information, please visit the Antique Fest’s Facebook page.
