Recap of Liberty Antiques Festival

A few weeks ago I spent the day at the Liberty Antiques Festival, a twice annual antiques fair held on a 100 acre farm in Liberty, NC.

It turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous, sunny day. Perfect for hunting for vintage finds. The festival is quite literally in the middle of nowhere - a dirt road turn off onto a farm where at 7:30 am I was already sitting in a line of cars!

And waiting 200 people deep in line to get in!

While I waiting, I observed my fellow shoppers. Note to self - serious shoppers bring their own rolly cart things!

Overall I would say I was impressed with the variety of stuff offered and the sheer knowledge of the dealers and shoppers alike. This is not your average flea market crowd. These are serious antiques dealers with encyclopedic knowledge of their wares. Prices weren't exactly what I'd call cheap, especially for some of the more spectacular pieces. But there were definitely still bargains to be had. I think a festival like this is the perfect place to head if you are decorating a home and still in need of those few perfect pieces to finish it off.

This incredible vintage wood file cabinet was easily 8 feet tall and would have made for some killer craft storage. It was $800. Not cheap but for such a substantial and unique piece, I still consider that really great.

Some of the other interesting vintage furniture pieces I saw:

All I could think when I saw this piece (a vintage display case from a bakery!) was how amazing it would be as mudroom/shoe storage. Can you imagine?!

Love this Jenny Lind bed! There was also an incredible selection of quilts at the festival (see them there in the background?) Virtually every booth had am amazing quilt on display.

Of course in addition to these bigger furniture pieces, there was also the expected assortment of glassware - every color under the rainbow!

Antique ironstone. Love! + another fab quilt in the background.

Loved this booth of vintage sports paraphernalia. Great merchandising too.

Remember a few seasons back when Restoration Hardware was selling these factory carts turned coffee tables for like $1,000? These were $250.

Never saw so many vintage linens in one place!

Also in abundance at the festival - some great vintage lighting fixtures.

Don't these look familiar?

Are antlers still in?

Now stuff I loved but didn't buy:

I was so in love with this double sink/washtub. It would look amazing in a laundry room but I would love it in a garden shed too. When I suggested it to Mr. H+F he said "it would look great in a laundry room in 1915". UGH!!!

Loved these fiberglass outdoor chairs. They had a very Kelly Wearstler vibe. Similar to these from Pieces for $695 a chair...err...except these were $200...for all four!

This etagere would have looked great holding towels and toiletries in my guest bath.

I loved this vintage seed packet display piece. 3 of them would make for a great escort card display at a lovely summer wedding right?

Completely adorable vintage art for a nursery. Imagine them framed up in a series?!

This doesn't really belong under the category of "stuff I almost bought" because it was $2,800 but it was GORGEOUS! A 5 foot + tall framed, vintage Lotti poster. This would look so incredible on a big wall. Very Novogratz-esque.

Of course it wouldn't be an antiques festival without the normal array of bric-a-brac and totally random stuff.

Like an Osmonds lunchbox?

Or a completely random sculpture using rusty bottle caps?

A moonshine still?

Am I the only one totally terrified by old dolls?

Mr. H+F was actually upset that I didn't bring home this Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robot set. Seriously...

I kept seeing these charming tin toys all over the festival. I didn't go with the intention of buying any but they really started to grow on me.

Before I knew it, I was buying some! Like this cute top.

And these carnival swings.

Other stuff that I picked up - this pedestal base wicker planter for $15.

It's looking much better on my porch now that I've spray painted it gray. {Note the ladder in the background? Yup, this is happening.}

These iron silhouette pieces of Presidents Lincoln and Washington for $10. I love how graphic they are and I think they'll look great on a gallery wall.

And this rhinestone bracelet (at the top) for $20.

So as you can see, I spent way more time browsing than actually buying but I still loved every second. I think I'll definitely go back in September now that I have a better sense for what kinds of items they carry there.