Round Top Antique Show by the Numbers
The Round Top antique show is the largest antique fair in the world. Here are the facts, figures, and data points that define it.
This page is maintained by Round Top Finder and updated each show season. If you're a journalist, researcher, or content creator — you're welcome to cite these statistics with a link back to this page.
The Show at a Glance
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Venues | 48 independently owned venues |
| Vendors | 1,500+ vendors per show |
| Show corridor | 11 miles along Highway 237, from Tree Park to La Bahia |
| Estimated attendance | 100,000+ visitors per major show |
| Show frequency | 3 shows per year: Spring (March), Fall (October), Winter (January) |
| Show duration | Approximately 2 weeks per major show |
| Spring 2026 dates | March 14–28 |
| Fall 2026 dates | October 17–31 |
| Location | Round Top, Texas (population 90) |
| GPS center | Highway 237 between Round Top and Carmine, Texas |
Geography & Access
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Distance from Houston | 95 miles (approximately 1.5 hours) |
| Distance from Austin | 80 miles (approximately 1.5 hours) |
| Distance from San Antonio | 150 miles (approximately 2.5 hours) |
| Distance from Dallas | 240 miles (approximately 3.5 hours) |
| Main highway | Texas State Highway 237 |
| Nearest airports | Houston IAH/HOU, Austin AUS |
| Counties | Fayette County and Washington County |
| Nearest towns | Carmine (3 mi), Warrenton (5 mi), Burton (10 mi), Brenham (20 mi), La Grange (20 mi), Fayetteville (15 mi) |
History & Growth
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Emma Lee Turney organizes the first Round Top Antiques Fair at the Schützen Verein hall with 22 vendors. Hazel Ledbetter, owner of the general store, pitched the idea after tourists kept peering through her windows. |
| 1968–1980s | The show becomes biannual (spring and fall). Turney expands steadily, maintaining strict quality standards — dealers who brought “junk” were uninvited. |
| 1980s–1990s | The show outgrows the Schützen Verein and moves to what is now the Big Red Barn Event Center on Highway 237. Other independent venues begin opening along the highway. |
| ~2001 | Marburger Farm opens and quickly becomes the most famous venue — 350+ dealers on 43 acres. |
| 2000s | Blue Hills, The Compound, Excess, The Arbors, and other venues open independently. The show corridor expands from a single venue to multiple miles of Highway 237. |
| 2010s | The show reaches national and international recognition. Interior designers from across the country make annual buying trips. The show corridor stretches to its current 11 miles. |
| 2020 | COVID-19 cancels the spring show — one of the only interruptions in the show's 50+ year history. Fall show returns with modifications. |
| 2024–2026 | 48 independently owned venues operate along the corridor. Winter show added as a third annual event. The show draws an estimated 100,000+ visitors per major show. |
Venue Breakdown
Round Top's 48 venues are independently owned and operated. Each sets its own dates, hours, admission, and vendor standards. This decentralized model is what makes Round Top unique among antique fairs.
| Venue Category | Count | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Large destination venues (100+ vendors) | 5–7 | Multi-tent/building complexes on 10–40+ acres. Examples: Marburger Farm, Blue Hills, The Arbors |
| Mid-size curated venues (20–100 vendors) | 10–15 | Focused collections, often themed or curated. Examples: Market Hill, The Compound, Bader Ranch |
| Small specialty venues (5–20 vendors) | 15–20 | Boutique-scale, often with specific categories (French antiques, architectural salvage, vintage clothing) |
| Field and outdoor venues | 5–10 | Open-air markets, often in fields or under portable tents. Typically lower price points and more eclectic inventory |
Venue Admission
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Free admission venues | 46 of 48 venues — the vast majority of the corridor is free to enter |
| Paid admission venues | Only 2 venues charge admission: Marburger Farm ($15) and Big Red Barn ($10) |
| Early buyer / VIP admission | Marburger and select other venues offer early access (1–3 days before general opening) for $25–$75 |
| Parking | Free at most venues including Bar W Field. Several Warrenton venues charge ~$5 for parking. |
What People Buy
Round Top vendors offer a wide range of antiques, vintage items, and handmade goods. The most common categories include:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Furniture | American, French, English, primitive, Mid-Century Modern, industrial, farmhouse |
| Rugs | Hand-knotted oriental, Turkish, Persian, Caucasian, kilim, vintage |
| Art & paintings | Original oils, prints, folk art, photography, sculptures |
| Silver & metalwork | Sterling, silverplate, brass, copper, iron, tin |
| Ceramics & pottery | Majolica, transferware, ironstone, stoneware, art pottery |
| Glass | Depression glass, art glass, crystal, colored glass |
| Textiles | Quilts, vintage linens, lace, grain sacks, French textiles |
| Lighting | Antique chandeliers, sconces, table lamps, industrial lighting |
| Architectural salvage | Doors, windows, hardware, mantels, columns, corbels, trim |
| Jewelry & accessories | Vintage and antique jewelry, watches, clothing, handbags |
| Garden & outdoor | Iron gates, planters, urns, statuary, outdoor furniture |
| Books & ephemera | Rare books, maps, prints, postcards, vintage signage |
Visitor Demographics
| Metric | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Primary audience | Women age 35–65 (approximately 85% of show visitors) |
| Top feeder markets | Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio — plus regional visitors from Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and nationwide |
| Visitor types | Interior designers (buying for clients), collectors, resellers/dealers, home decorators, first-time tourists, international buyers |
| Average visit duration | 1–3 days (most visitors attend multiple venues across multiple days) |
| Repeat visitors | Estimated 40–60% of attendees are repeat visitors who attend every show |
Economic Impact
| Metric | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Lodging demand | Area lodging (Brenham, Round Top, La Grange, Fayetteville, Burton) reaches near-100% occupancy during major shows. Airbnb and VRBO inventory within 30 miles sells out weeks in advance. |
| Restaurant demand | Local restaurants and food vendors report show-week revenue 5–10x their off-season averages |
| Employment | Shows generate significant seasonal employment — vendors hire additional staff, venues hire security, parking attendants, and support crews |
| Regional impact | The Round Top show corridor is the largest economic event in Fayette County, driving tourism revenue for Round Top, Carmine, Warrenton, Burton, Fayetteville, La Grange, and Brenham |
| Real estate | Show-adjacent property values have increased significantly over the past two decades. Short-term rental income during show weeks is a major factor in local real estate investment. |
The Show Corridor Map
The Round Top antique show spans 11 miles along Highway 237 in central Texas, from La Bahia in the north to the Warrenton fields in the south. Here's how the venues are laid out along the corridor:
Round Top Area (North End)
La Bahia / Highway 237 North
- La Bahia Show & Hunt
- Big Red Barn The Show
- Blue Hills The Show
- The Hive The Show
- The Arbors The Show
- The Venue Show & Hunt
Curated Cluster
Between La Bahia and Round Top
- Market Hill The Show
- Cisco Village The Show
- The Halles The Show
- Drift & Holler The Show
- Round Top Vintage Market Show & Hunt
Round Top
Town center
- Round Top Village The Show
- The 550 Market The Show
- The 303 Show & Hunt
- Henkel Square The Show
- Rolland Square The Show
- Bader Ranch The Show
South Round Top
Highway 237 South toward Warrenton
- The Horseshoe The Show
- Marburger Farm The Show
- The Compound The Show
Warrenton
Highway 237 at Highway 290 — deal-hunting and treasure-finding
- Bull Market The Show
- Old Town Market Show & Hunt
- Excess 1 & 2 Show & Hunt
- Northgate Show & Hunt
- The Marketplace Warrenton The Hunt
- Bar W Field The Hunt
- Chicken Ranch The Hunt
- Tin Star Field The Hunt
- Renck Field The Hunt
- Sommerfeld Place The Hunt
- Plus additional field venues The Hunt
The Show — curated, design-forward The Hunt — treasure hunting, deals Show & Hunt — elements of both
Round Top Finder Coverage
Round Top Finder is the most comprehensive free resource for the Round Top antique show.
| Resource | Count |
|---|---|
| Venue profiles | 46 venues with hours, admission, directions, photos, and vendor lists |
| Vendor profiles | 290+ vendors with photos, booth locations, and descriptions |
| Blog posts | 76 in-depth guides covering venues, shopping, planning, dining, lodging, and area towns |
| Interactive map | All venues, parking, restrooms, and points of interest |
| Mobile app | iOS and Android — free download |
| Show date calendar | Complete schedule for all venues across spring, fall, and winter shows |
Cite This Page
If you're writing about the Round Top antique show and need statistics, you're welcome to cite this page:
“Round Top Antique Show by the Numbers.” Round Top Finder, 2026. https://roundtopfinder.com/round-top-statistics
For press inquiries or additional data: Contact Round Top Finder at hello@roundtopfinder.com
Last updated: April 2026. Statistics are estimates based on public sources, venue data, and Round Top Finder's own research. Attendance figures are estimated based on published reports and venue operator statements. Individual venue data is sourced from venue operators and public information.