Larned Area Chamber’s Antique, Vintage, & Collectible Show committee chairperson Kristin Keith describes the annual show as a big family.

This year, the show, held the second weekend of February each year, returns from a COVID-19-induced hiatus for its 51st year. 

This year’s edition featured approximately 16 different vendors from at least three different states, some of whom have been with the show for more than two decades. The vendors, she said, feature a variety of wares.

“Anything from pottery, glassware, jewelry, furniture, primitive - what we call repurposed – items. We have a couple of dealers take old pieces of architecture or furniture and kind of revamp them,” Keith said. “We have somebody who specializes in advertising and baseball cards and postcards.”

She describes it as a variety so wide, it’s place where a collector can come and find just about anything they want. Books, pictures, classic board games and more could all be found at the show, as well.

She also said many of the show’s vendors are experts in various different fields of antiques, and help collectors coming to the show glean information about any items they might bring with them, including family heirlooms.

“We can point people to the right person to get the information that they need,” Keith said.

The show kicked off Friday, and runs through Sunday. It will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Larned Community Center at 1500 Toles in Larned. For those who have not already been, the admission price is $2.

In addition to the extensive group of antiques vendors, the show also features concessions, including homemade goods such as soup, cake and pie.

Turnout was steady Friday, and the halls were packed by Saturday afternoon. Keith estimated by Saturday afternoon the show had already seen record crowds with more than 400 visitors each of the first two days, and vendors had expressed pleasure with their overall sales.

This year, the show’s committee took to social media to spread word about the show, and there was a positive early response to the campaign.

Keith, herself an antique vendor in the area for around 20 years, has worked with the show’s committee for around 15 years and is in her third year chairing the committee. She said she loves the family aspect the show brings with it, and is looking forward to one big family reunion.  “Once a year and get together with all our friends that we’ve met over the years. That’s my favorite part,” Keith said.