Change is inevitable in life and in the antiques business. But how do you adjust and deal with it? It was a change of venue on March 18 and 19 for the seimannual Kimberton Antiques Show, which had been held for more than 50 years at the Kimberton (Pa.) Fire Hall. Early birds were waiting, and attendance was up (1,336 showgoers) at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa., located 8 miles/15 minutes east of the fire hall (the fire hall could no longer be rented for the show). Its a credit to show promotor Lori Rebuck Boger for securing the new venue. The alternative was folding the show. Records indicate the show was started by the managers of Shupps Grove Antique Market (Adamstown, Pa.) in either 1968-69. Seventy dealers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia exhibited their wares at the Expo Center. There were two common areas where dealers could exhibit larger items/overflow that could not fit in their booths. The large crowd lined up inside the ample waiting area to enter the show on day one. Familiar faces graced the exhibition hall floor including exhibiting dealer Carroll Swam of the Gatchellville Store greeting folks with his traditional banjo-playing. A major loss to the show and antiquing community, Swams wife, dealer Linda Sarubin, passed away since the last show. A rare and folksy 45-star flag inscribed, In sweet memory of my Bryanite after the Bryan parade, November 3, 1900, was priced at $525 by Ivy & Twig of Lambertville, N.J., and sold immediately upon the opening of the show. It was a political flag created by its owner on election day 1900 when William Jennings Bryan lost the presidential election to William McKinley. A three-foot wooden figure of early 20th century cartoon character Jiggs as a cigar butler also bore a sold tag. One customer was especially enthusiastic about a 1940s-50s left-handers baseball glove he purchased way back since as a lefty himself, he was forced to play with a right-handers glove. A regular customer at the show said they could not make it on the first day but drove up on day two from their home in Washington, D.C., to attend. One dealer noted that she was part of a family who has been attending or participating in the show for four generations. A few regulars had some difficulty finding the right building in the massive Expo complex in Oaks; however, the antiques crowd seemed determined and eventually found their way into the correct well-lit and expansive building. A good number of happy buyers were seen carting off their treasures throughout the weekend. Although there were dissenters, the general mood of both the attendees and dealers regarding the changed location seemed positive. A number of customers who were asked about the adjustment were pleased with the new location being more central in the Philadelphia region, with easy access via Route 422. The next Antiques at Kimberton show will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18 and 19, at the Holiday Inn in Morgantown, Pa. (due to the Expo Center being unavailable that weekend). Beyond that, the location for the 2024 March and November shows are yet-to-be-determined as a regular venue has been difficult to secure. There are no shortage of challenges in any business. Here is to the hope this popular regional event not only continues but can excel. To learn more, visit the Antiques at Kimberton Facebook page.