Your Guide to the Round Top, Texas Antique Show

The most frequently asked question I get about living in the Texas hill country is an inquisitive “do people really wear hats and boots and belt buckles all the time?” I love getting asked this question, because seeing the expression of partial excitement, partial confusion when I reply “yes, but I’m more of a hat girl myself” never gets old. Texas is a special place, and it seems that everyone has their own imaginary version of what it’s like here – in the Hill Country, it’s everything you dream it would be.

The second question I get asked about all the time is “so what’s the deal with Round Top?” I love answering this one just as much.

For many, Round Top is a fun girl’s trip or a stopover during a long weekend to Austin or Houston. For locals like us, Round Top is a place filled with memories and vendors we’ve come to know and love. It’s a big part of our local culture, our lives, and it’s full of hill country charm.

Round Top is a small, rural Texas town with fewer than 100 residents, but it’s known primarily for the Round Top Antiques Show that began over 50 years ago. While the show had a humble beginning, major shows now happen twice a year (the Spring Show and the Fall Show) with an additional smaller show occurring in the winter. Today, it’s known as the largest antique show in the United States. Vendors line a two-lane highway amongst farms and fields of oak trees. During the spring show, visitors are sure to see wildflowers, including Texas bluebonnets, during their trip. It’s a magical place for all, but especially for antique-lovers like me.

Round Top isn’t limited to Round Top-proper, however. When folks refer to the Round Top Antiques Show, they are usually referring to a stretch of small towns along TX State Highway 237 including Warrenton, Round Top, Carmine, Burton, and more, making up over 20 miles full of antiques from across the globe (Round Top is known for a number of particularly fantastic European antique vendors).

If you’re making a trip to the Texas hill country, Round Top is worth a spot on your itinerary – we’d love to see you there!

Our Favorite Round Top Vendors

• Round Top Ranch Antiques – Our #1 favorite stop in Round Top, Round Top Ranch is a year-round vendor with three large warehouses full of European antiques. They receive shipments on a monthly basis, straight from Europe! We’ve gotten to know Henrik (the proprietor, along with his wife Mary) and the team at Round Top Ranch, and they are passionate about each piece and love sharing in the excitement of making the purchase and envisioning it in your home. We’ve learned so much from Henrik that has really developed our love of European antiques – his passion is contagious and he’s a vendor you can trust. He meticulously cares for the pieces in his warehouses, and I am amazed how he knows where each and every piece is, even if mentioned casually in conversation. We also love Henrik and Mary’s story of falling in love with our beloved Texas hill country at first sight. During a recent trip, we found the perfect Mora clock and Gustavian commode for our hill country home, seen below:

We couldn’t believe the unique beauty of this commode when we spotted it in the back of the last warehouse we visited at Round Top Ranch. Not pictured is its gorgeous free-standing column detailing that takes inspiration from Rome, a favorite place of ours to visit.

• Marburger Farm – While Marburger Farm is only open for a short time during the Spring and Fall shows, it’s a must see for true antique lovers. Unlike Round Top Ranch, Marburger Farm is a seasonal stop, open only during shows. Tents line the hill country field of Marburger Farm and are filled with a collection of amazing vendors from near and far, and it’s by far our favorite stop with many purveyors. There’s a small ticket fee to get into Marburger Farm (most of the other venues are free to enter), but the experience is well worth it. If you’re a serious antique collector, allocate at least half a day to see everything that Marburger Farm has to offer.
• The Compound – The Compound is a fun stop over across the street from Round Top Ranch Antiques, with a collection of vendors with treasures both old and new. One of my favorite spots at The Compound is Indian Pink, which is full of dreamy textiles and custom upholstery. I love collecting their high-quality linens every time we are there.

• The White Barn – Next door to The Compound, The White Barn is home to an ultra-curated selection of European antiques, original art, and a number of swoon-worthy greenhouses that are seriously inspiring for my future garden space.
• Blue Hills – If you’ve seen Round Top on social media, it’s likely that you’ve seen Blue Hills. With more of a fun, hang-out vibe (Taylor and my dad often will grab a drink while my mom and I shop), Blue Hills is not as antique-heavy and features vintage tents and modern curated goods and fashions amongst a number of favorite antique vendors. Sometimes Blue Hills can feel a bit touristy, but it’s still worth the trip for a number of stops like Leftovers Antiques, Kim Hoegger, and Well Sourced by Emily. Another favorite is a tent full of original art and maps that you can’t miss – we’ve made a few purchases here. You could easily spend half a day at Blue Hills, as there are so many vendors and the grounds have recently expanded.

Blue Hills has such a diverse collection of vendors – there’s something for everyone!

• Bader Ranch – Another ultra-curated stop full of European antiques, I’ll occasionally find mid-century treasures at Bader Ranch, which feels unique! Sometimes they also have clothing pop-ups which makes the spot even more fun.
• Courtney Barton – Courtney Barton has an adorable little shop in Round Top that is open year-round! It’s full of worldly finds – you never know exactly what you’re going to see, but it’s always unique and inspiring. It’s also a great spot to grab gifts or smaller items like glassware, mugs, and linens!
• Paul Michael Company – Paul Michael is an interesting stop in Round Top, also open all year. It houses many pieces from artisans, featuring many natural materials. A favorite piece that I’ve collected from Paul Michael is a gorgeous decorative natural stone bowl with raw edges that looks almost like it was plucked straight from the Earth. The pieces here are worth seeing (it’s often my dad’s favorite stop), and what makes the stop even more fun is that it’s in a building with other vendors who are also open all year long.

What to Bring & Wear to Round Top

• Since Round Top and the surrounding towns are so small, there are a limited number of local lunch spots that can get very crowded during the show. Because I’m there to focus on shopping, I try to save time by bringing a cooler and packed lunch, but if you’re traveling and this isn’t realistic I recommend grabbing a bite at the food trucks at Blue Hills or Marburger Farm. Both have areas with plenty of picnic tables.
• Dress reasonably – I almost always wear my boots to Round Top because you will be walking in fields and dirt (sometimes mud)! Even though I’m sometimes tempted, I avoid wearing favorite white dresses and pieces that are too fussy. Denim is a great choice, and temperatures can swing during the show times so be sure to dress in layers. I also recommend carrying a bag with a comfortable shoulder strap that you can easily throw your layers in if the weather heats up!
• I personally have never encountered a vendor who doesn’t take card for payment.
• Pack your measuring tape (although many vendors will be happy to let you borrow one if you forget).

Insider Tips for Round Top

• If you’re in a pinch, most stops at Round Top can be seen in an hour or two (unless otherwise noted above), but if you are serious about antiquing and like to carefully consider everything (like I do) you’ll need to spend more time at a few spots – especially Marburger Farm. We recently spent three hours at Round Top Ranch Antiques, but most people could probably see everything there within an hour. It really depends on how serious you are about shopping and how much you know and/or want to learn about the pieces.
• There are very few hotels in the area, and they book up extremely far in advance – Austin is a short drive away and would make a great place to stay!
• If you’re local, you might be able to fit your purchases in your vehicle or rent a truck, but if not…
• Most larger vendors will contract with shippers and set up the service for you. At other larger venues (like Blue Hills or Marburger) there will be tents with shippers who can arrange to get you your piece.
• If you are truly shopping for furniture, it can be overwhelming – so bring a list with your measurements so you can hone in on the perfect pieces.
• Round Top isn’t just open during the shows! Some vendors are open year-round, and there are a few year-round warehouses of large vendors who also participate in the shows a short drive away along Highway 71 (like Old World Antieks).
• Most importantly… talk to the vendors, make friends with them, and ask them questions about the pieces! They are knowledgable and love to share their passion for history and antiques with others. Being a vendor is hard work, and vendors always love to be acknowledged for their brain trust and efforts to make such special, treasured pieces available right here in the Lone Star State.