Madison-Bouckville Antique Week
By: Kaila Champoux
There’s nothing quite like browsing an antique display and stumbling upon the very toy you once cherished, the same china your grandmother set on the table for Sunday dinners, or the baseball card you dreamed of owning as a child. For just a moment, you’re transported back to childhood. As you turn the delicate china over in your hands, you can almost smell the Sunday sauce simmering on the stove. Holding a well-loved Barbie, you remember the imaginary worlds you created. Flip through a stack of vintage baseball cards, and suddenly you’re back in your grass-stained uniform, trading with friends after an afternoon at the ball field.
It is truly incredible how an item from the past can take you back in time or spark a memory.
The Madison-Bouckville Antique Week, occurring August 9-15, is your chance to go to an event where the past seamlessly merges with the present. Here you’ll find thousands of opportunities to recall these precious memories and hold a piece of history in your hands.
The first show in 1972 had just 35 vendors. Today, the show has grown into a massive event that attracts over 50,000 visitors throughout the week, some traveling as far as California and even Scotland! Visitors of all ages can expect free admission to the show, which spans 2 miles on Route 20 and is chock full with over 2,000 dealers and hundreds of thousands of treasures.
Vendors are welcomed to sell their wares with open arms. They travel as far as Florida, Tennessee, and Canada bringing a variety of items from different corners of the U.S. and the world. Visitors and vendors alike make it a family tradition to visit town for the show year after year because there are so many sights to see. Erin Zyla, President of Madison-Bouckville Promotions, the organization responsible for the show, is present every year. She loves to greet familiar faces and enjoys knowing what they like so she can provide them with a personal touch by pointing them in the right direction. After all – the show is like a giant search and find, full of niche items.
From curiosities, collectibles, country primitives, antiques, and additional fun finds in the field tents to food trucks, fair food, and kettle corn, you’ll be entertained from 8-5PM each day the show is held. If you prefer browsing indoors, the antique and curiosity shops lining Route 20 are also open during the show.
Whether you are a serious collector or a casual shopper, visitors can browse vintage comic books, vintage holiday items, vintage clothing (which is now trending), collectibles, and 80s toys, just to name a few. Some items have a lot of competition – especially popular items like baseball cards, military items, like daggers and uniforms and metal signs featuring cars or popular sodas. If you see these items, cash out quickly! They won’t last all week.
Those who visit are often excited and even surprised at what the antique and collectible world calls “oddities” or “curiosities” which are unusual, obscure, or macabre historical items that aren’t often seen. In previous years, a Vintage Children’s Casket and a six-legged taxidermied pig were some items that were at the show falling into this category.
There is no telling what surprises await. Whether you’re spending one dollar or several thousand, there’s something for every budget and every interest, making this an accessible event for all to enjoy.
John Booth, a Utica native, has been an avid collector for 35 years. He frequents Bouckville and especially enjoys attending Antique Week. He describes Madison-Bouckville as a step back in time, and “a place where your past is just ahead.”
Grab the family and make a memory of it – enjoy all of what Madison County has to offer: boat or take a dip in one of the many lakes, go to The Wild Animal Park, and book a room for the night. Then, start the next day fresh at the show. If you decide to spend a few hours at the show or the whole week enjoying Madison County, you won’t be disappointed.
Whether you’re searching for a cherished childhood toy, the missing piece to a beloved collection, or hoping to reconnect with a part of yourself that only a familiar treasure can awaken, you’ll find that at every booth at Madison-Bouckville Antique Week holds a memory, a story, and a piece of history just waiting for its next chapter.
You’ll never know what you’ll discover.
“It’s an experience you won’t forget” -Erin Zyla
- Dates: August 9th – 15th
- Hours: 8AM – 5PM each day
- Location: Route 20 in Bouckville
- FREE ADMISSION
- Pro Tips for Visitors:
- Bring Cash or expect to use the ATMs on site as most vendors are on a cash basis.
- Go early and break for lunch at one of the many food vendors!
- Wear comfortable shoes, layers, and consider an umbrella for rain or shine days!
- Don’t forget water, snacks, a wagon to cart your goods to your vehicle, or reusable bags!
- There are many booths so it can be easy to get turned around. Jot down the field and tent or if you really love the item, buy it before it is gone!
- Madison-Bouckville is a year-round collector’s destination, so if you can’t make the big show, consider visiting the shops that are open year round or visit during the June show, Holiday Stroll, or Spring Shop Hop!
