Wednesday, September 29, 2010 to October 1st from 9 am to 5 pm. Saturday, October 2nd from 9 am to 4 pm. As one makes their way through the miles and miles of antiques brought into the area twice a year, it is hard to imagine that the whole event grew from the vision of one woman and her twenty-two dealers. In the Fall of 1967, the tradition of Antiques Week began here in the old Rifle Hall building under the direction of matriarch Emma Lee Turney. After more than 40 years, it is truly fitting that the person now in charge of the event's original location is Ralph Willard, one of those very first twenty-two dealers. "I've missed maybe one or two here at the Rifle Hall over the past 40-some years," Willard chuckled, "but that was due to unforeseen circumstances." He was just twenty-six years old then. "This was the first antique show I ever did, I didnt know much back then. The Rifle Hall has been a big part of my life. I'm very proud to be taking over the tradition." While Willard is keeping the tradition going by working closely with the local Round Top community by inviting 4-H members to set up in front of the building with plants, flowers and other items for sale, he has also taken the show to the next level. Tradition meets cutting edge. "We have the Big Tent and Rifle Hall packed with the best quality antiques, which is what shoppers have come to expect from this venue," commented Willard. "But, we now also feature fantastic food prepared by the chefs from Legal Tender Saloon. In fact, they'll be doing an all day, all you can eat buffet during our opening on Wednesday." Other new things at the expanded event is an opening reception party with catered treats, refreshments and live music. The public is invited to meet dealers and join the jubilee on the evening before opening day, Tuesday, September 28 from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m. "We have many special extra things planned," Willard added. Although forty years ago Ralph Willard may have been a novice antiquarian, he is anything but that today. Besides the Round Top Rifle Hall & Exhibition Canopy show, he manages six other important antique events in Dallas, Austin and Houston every year; and is a respected collector and dealer in vintage folk art and antiques himself. "Ralph is wonderful," comments Austin, Texas based antiquarian Carlos O'Docharty. "He is so good to his dealers, he's level-headed and a very likable person. You can tell he puts his heart into everything he does." The Rifle Hall is located on FM 1457, just down the road from Round Top Square. Join them for the best antiques, great food catered by the Legal Tender Saloon, plants by the local 4-H group, and live music. Information, Ralph Willard, 214-826-2584.

Website: www.ralphwillard.com/index.shtml