The 12th annual Kempton Antique Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Center Drive, Kempton. The Antique Dealers Association of Berks County, known as ADABC, sponsors the show. It features 50 dealers offering a wide range of antiques and collectibles, with something for every taste and budget.

Berks County has a storied reputation as a source of antiques for dealers, collectors and decorators across the country. ADABC, a professional organization, traces its origins to 1948. Its founding members were legends in the antiques business. The group held its first antique show in 1952 and was chartered as a nonprofit in 1954. The organization maintained bylaws and set the standard for ethical behavior among those in the trade. This is very different from the online world of anonymous sellers. The association once printed a pamphlet listing its members’ shops, back when shops were popular. The group has promoted an antique show every year at venues including Goodwill Ballroom, Abe Lincoln Hotel, Reading Motor Inn, Stokesay Castle, River Edge, The Sheraton, Scottish Rite Temple, Leesport Farmers Market and now Kempton. The first year in Kempton was 2014. The show committee decided to move to Kempton for several reasons. The location is easily accessible to Lehigh Valley and New Jersey residents, as well as those in neighboring counties. Kempton also is a wonderful destination when fall foliage reaches peak beauty at the base of the Blue Mountains. The area is home to the Hawk Mountain wild bird sanctuary. A historic excursion railroad, the Wanamaker Kempton Line, is on the community center property. Just down the street is the delightful Wanamaker’s General Store, a local treasure. All of this is tucked into the scenic uppermost corner of Berks County and is worth the ride “up country.” The show also shares a date with Albany Arts Fest, held at the Albany Township Historical Society and featuring the talents of local artists. The event is just around the corner from the Kempton Community Center.

For more than 50 years, the ADABC Antique Show had a local Pennsylvania Dutch flavor, with items leaning toward Americana. The show now is open to dealers from neighboring counties and states, bringing diverse offerings. It still aims for great quality, with items ranging from the 1700s to modernism. Offerings include Americana and country pieces, as well as Asian items, holiday decor, estate jewelry, sporting goods, artwork, textiles, furnishings, glassware, pottery, advertising, toys and interesting smalls. Local folk art is always a favorite. Items of local interest are saved for the show, this one-day event. Buyers can have confidence in their purchases because they are buying from reputable dealers. Vendors are always happy to answer questions and help visitors learn. Don’t be shy. We welcome younger enthusiasts.

Come to an antique show and be part of socially responsible living. Buying antiques and vintage items at a local show puts income into the hands of self-employed family businesses. It makes sense to circulate money locally. Items sold in big-box stores often are mass-produced in foreign countries where workers may face abusive labor practices. That helps make the items cheap and plentiful. Antiques and vintage items come from around the world, and they already are here. No fossil fuels are wasted importing them. Old items are recycled again and again throughout their long lifespans. It’s a system participants can be proud to support. There has never been a better time to buy old furnishings. Prices are more affordable than ever. Come check it out.

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