Weekend Finds – The Maine Antique Festival

August in Maine is the time when delicious blueberries are sweet, ripe and plentiful. Sailboats and visitors from away are everywhere and as we found out August 12-13 so are the yard-sales, flea markets and antique shopping opportunities.

On our way home from running our morning errands we came across 5 yard-sales! Of course we had to stop and check them out. We found a few good deals, but the big fun was yet to come. We heard that the 30th Annual Maine Antique Festival being held on the Union Fairgrounds was the place to be, so we ponied up our $8 bucks each, put on some sun screen (it was in the 80’s and sunny), grabbed our cameras and some cash and checked it out. Several hundred dealers were spread out across the grounds with an amazing variety of goods. Here are some high-lights from our day.

One dealer had mid-century modern!

Sorry to say, only one dealer had mid-century furniture. I didn’t find my dream coffee table, but I did like some of his lamps and chairs.

Mickey Mouse See-Saw

The display from Old Winterport Commercial House Antique Shop and B&B was right up my alley.  The Mickey Mouse see-saw and the wonderful bright orange  Gulf sign mixed in with other  antique and vintage signs. I spoke with the super nice owner and he said his shop at 114 Maine St., Route 1A, Winterport, ME, a converted 1833 stagecoach stop and inn, is over 4000 sq. ft. so we are putting that on our list of places to visit very soon!

Fun Gulf sign - for someones collection.

We also ran into some folks we first met at the Montsweag Flea Market over the 4th of July weekend.  Marna, of Half Pond Antiques had a neat display with an eclectic mix of industrial, antique and vintage goods. I loved these little drawers with the numbers on them, and probably should have bought one to hold our spices on the open shelving in our kitchen.

Industrial vintage drawers from Half Pond Antiques

I didn’t end up buying anything, but I was super inspired and motivated to get busy with some of my own projects. I also really enjoyed speaking with the dealers, who were all really generous with their amazing wealth of knowledge about their antiques. Like a lot of people I really enjoy the stories behind the stuff.

Small Metal Toy Ships and German Compass

My husband, however did buy a few small metal ships and a German made compass from Jon at Spruce Hill Farm Antiques. Jon had bought some things from us at our flea market debut (small world). He and his wife have a great eye for painted furniture and accessories.

A weathered Gnome for the garden?

Of course this little gnome was photo worthy.

The Maine Antique Festival is held each year in August at the Union Fairgrounds in Union, Maine. It is a quick drive from the mid-coast areas of Camden, Rockport and other areas of Maine. If you are in the area next summer be sure to check it out there is a huge variety of goods and prices for every budget.