Once heralded around the region as “Antique Alley” for the number of antique shops in the downtown district, Historic Downtown Attalla is aiming to revive that distinction with the Inaugural “Treasures in the Streets” Antique Show Sept. 5 -7.
Over 50 vendors from Alabama and surrounding states will set up on 5th Avenue and 4th Street and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, along with the downtown antique merchants, rain or shine. A classic car show will take place during the same hours and various food vendors will have appetizing offerings alongside the local eateries.
The show kicks off on Friday night at 5 p.m. as the downtown antique merchants stay open until 9 p.m. At 7 p.m., the STRAIT WAY Quartet will play at the Gazebo until 9 p.m. STRAIT WAY is from Cullman and features true traditional Southern Gospel quartet harmonies. Lawn chairs are welcome. Sunday, the local downtown antique shops will be open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Treasures in the Streets will be a biannual show, taking place each April and September. The April 2015 show dates are April 25 and 26. Patterned after a regionally successful show in Clinton, Tenn., event organizers feel that the location of Attalla and the history of antiquing in the town made an antique show a logical step in showing off downtown Attalla. Located on I-59 at the intersections of Highways 278/431, Hwy. 11 and Hwy. 77, Attalla is easily accessible for vendors and shoppers from near and far.
“We wanted to show off our downtown area and our location has allowed us to attract dealers from several states,” said Event Coordinator Theresa Hawkins, owner of Emma Kate’s Cottage Antique Mall.
Registered vendors will be showing true antiques, such as fine furniture, great glassware and classic collectibles, along with vintage-style painted furniture, retro, and primitives. With vendors hailing from as far away as North Carolina and Ohio, there is sure to be plenty of antiquing to be done.
Greater Gadsden Area Tourism executive director Hugh Stump III was attracted to the idea from the beginning. “We felt that Attalla, due to its history of antique shops in downtown and the Hwy. 11 “Antique Alley” Yard Sale, would be a natural place for this unique show. The organizers had done their homework on what would make the show attractive to vendors and dealers and since they would be traveling a good distance we knew there would be tourism impact.
“This is the real thing, this is a true antique show. These are professional antique dealers that travel the antique show circuit throughout the U.S.,” Hawkins added.
For more information, visit www.attallatreasuresinthestreets.com, search “Treasures in the Streets” on Facebook or call 256-504-7810.