Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

Here is a sample of the chatter around the Blogosphere related to the 2010 Madison Bouckville Antique Week.
Capers of the Vintage Vixens --They made the 4 hour trip here.
Maya Made -- Spent most of their time outside the main field.
Michelle Palmer - Returned to her roots for a visit
Syracuse.com -- Covered the show from many angles.
Oneida Daily Dispatch -- Caitlin Traynor covered the show
Matt's Memo -- A local TV wonk wonders if it is trash or treasure
Antique Show Wanderer -- They wondered though last week
Diane Knott's Musings -- She found tea cups at the show
V&M --Late Summer Treasuers
My Vintage Soul -- Taking a trip to Bouckville
Rugs Below -- A photo show of Oriental Rugs for sale at the show
South Street Shabby -- At the show with friends
Gardening with Soule -- It's an end of summer tradition for them!

Here we are, mid August already and it is time to kick off Antique Week in Madison County.  Tents are already going up in Bouckville and preparations are in full swing.  The first dealers will start pulling into town and setting up on Sunday!  Here is a little primer for the week:
Show Dates and Times:  (Heading East to West along US 20)
Cherry Valley Auction Barn: Sunday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission, paid parking
Madison County Tourism Visitor Center: Sunday-Sunday 8am-5pm, Free Parking, Free Admission, Free public restrooms
Quaker Acres West Wednesday-Sunday 9am-5pm, Free Admission
East Expo Show Field Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm, Free Admission, Paid Parking
Butternut Hill Antique Show Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission
Hinman's Motel Out Front Antique Show Sunday-Sunday Free Admission
The Madison Bouckville Outdoor Antique Show -- Friday Early Buying 7am-4pm $40 for 1, $75 for 2.  Saturday 7-5, Sunday 9-5, Weekend admission $7 for one day, $8 for two day pass.
Mohawk Arms & Indian Opening Antique Fest -- Thursday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission
The Gallery Antique Show -- Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission
The Station House Antique Show- Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission
Bono's Show Field Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission, Free Parking
The Depot Antique Show -- Sunday-Sunday 9am -5pm Free Admission, paid parking.
Canal House Antiques -- Sunday-Sunday 9am-5pm Free Admission
Bring your walking shoes, as these show fields are spread out over a 1/5 miles stretch of US Route 20.  You will also want to stop into the over 30 shops that are open year round in both Madison and Bouckville while you are there!

If it’s the end of July, it must be  time to prepare for Antique week in Madison and Bouckville. Many people attend the weekend show the 21st and 22nd, but few realize that the show really begins on Sunday the 15th. This is one of the biggest antique shows in the Northeast and it has quite the reputation of being one of the best among antique dealers and collectors.

During the week, dealers line Route 20. These dealers set up shop in between the local antique shops so it becomes a continuous flow of antiques. There is no admission cost to browse during the week which makes it a great time to check out what antiquing is all about. Attending the show during the week offers antique collectors a chance to discover exactly what they’re looking for in a relaxing, slower paced shopping environment. There will be food vendors placed along Rt. 20 to take care of the hungry antique shopper. 

There are many places to park throughout the village, some parking lots closer to the main area charge a small fee but there are a couple places that have free parking. The Madison County Visitors Center, located on Rt. 20, offers free parking for up to 200 cars and 20 onsite antique deals to get you started. So get there early and stay all day. 

Take advantage of attending the early show during the week, beat the weekend crowds and come experience the largest outdoor antique show in New York State.

For more information on the August Madison-Bouckville Antique Show, visit www.bouckvilleantiqueshows.com/ or call (315)-824-2462.

Many years ago, Madison County Tourism produced a travel guide themed "From Antiques to Oz".  That theme sums up this weekend's events in Madison County.  Oz-Stravaganza! has already began and the antique dealers are setting up their tents as I write this in Bouckville.  So without further ado, here are your best bets for a fun weekend n Madison County:
1. Oz-Stravaganza!--It's the annual celebration of all things Wizard of Oz in Chittenango.  It starts this afternoon and runs right through Sunday evening.  The parade is set for 2pm on Saturday and if you are coming for the costume contest, registration begins at 12:15.
2. Spring Antique Show -- Everyone knows the Madison Bouckville Summer Antique Show that happens in August every year.  This weekend marks the spring show in Madison and Bouckville.  There are many deals to be found and smaller crowds than in August.  Check it out tomorrow and Sunday.
3. Saturday is National Trails Day and the local chapter of the North Country Trail Association will celebrate it at Stone Quarry Art Park tomorrow.  Convene at the hilltop area adjacent to the Stone Quarry Art Park Admin Building by 10am. You will be able to explore one of the Art Park Trails of your choice, tour the exhibit hall, learn about the many attractions offered by the Art Park, and check out the NCT/Link Trail segment within the park. At noon, reassemble at the picnic table area immediately adjacent to the Admin Building for refreshments.
4. For the 10th time, the DeRuyter Ruritan will be sponsoring an Antique Auto and Engine Show with gas engine demos, antique tractor parade and demos, a chicken bbq, and music highlight the afternoon of family fun. Cars will be judged in 12 classes and there will be vendors with crafts and a flea market.
5. On Sunday, June 6 the public is invited to join the fun and reminisce about “Milk Cow Memories,” a dairy history day and old fashioned family picnic. It will be held at The Smithfield Community Center, 5255Pleasnt Valley Road in Peterboro, NY beginning at noon and ending at 4 PM. Guests are asked to bring a dish-to-pass, along with scrapbooks, pictures, and antiques pertaining to the rich history of dairy farming in Central New York. In particular, we’re looking for Holstein enthusiasts and people who’ve devoted their lives to dairy farming.

The single largest event in Madison County is the August Antique week featuring over 1000 dealers and well over 20 thousand visitors to the tiny villages of Madison and Bouckville. What many people don’t realize is that a smaller show graces the villages each June. This year’s spring antique show is June 4-6 and will feature over 150 dealers selling their wares in addition to the over 30 shops and antique services open year round in the area. Why come in June you ask? Well for one it is much easier to find a hotel in the area. You can choose from Ye Olde Landmark Tavern or Madison Bed, Book and Candle B&B both located right on historic US Route 20. There are many other B&B’s and hotels in the area and it is much easier to get a reservation than for the August show.

The crowds are smaller too. Instead of battling with large crowds, you will have a better chance to peruse the wares the dealers have to offer. With smaller crowds, the dealers are ready to deal and send you home with that one of a kind piece you have been looking for at a price you think is wonderful. Don’t think that a small base of dealers makes for less selection. The selection at the June show is outstanding, and many of the dealers arrive after a winter of buying, looking to lighten their load for the trip back home.

The Spring outdoor antique show is a perfect way to start your summer of antiquing and it makes for a perfect getaway when you combine it with a nice overnight stay in a B&B with a wonderful dinner at Madison County’s restaurants. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend this year. For more information or to order an antique guide call Madison County Tourism at 800-684-7320 or email us at info@madisontourism.com.

The Madison County Historical Society ‘s Donation Auction Fundraiser is Sunday, May 16 at 1 pm. Auction items have been coming in and there are many wonderful things from furniture, art, decorative objects, and gift certificates from area businesses. The Oneida YMCA has donated gym memberships. Thompson Appliance has donated a 40” Samsung LCD television. Harden Furniture has donated a wine table.All about You of Oneida has donated European Facials. The Earlville Opera House has donated tickets to an upcoming performance. For you sailboat enthusiasts there is a lightening class sailboat, trailer included. There is too much to list so bring your lawn chair, and bid high at the society’s fun fundraiser on Sunday, May 16 at 1 pm on the grounds of the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main Street in Oneida. Food will also be available at the auction. Auctioneer Bradley Markowski will conduct the auction. There is no buyer’s premium.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Madison County Historical Society’s Restoration Fund. Restoration of an 1850 Gothic Revival period home is an ongoing process. Currently, the society needs to address the following restoration projects: the repair of the tin roof above the side porch including the vault room, and the front porch; the replacement of rotten window sills; and the replacement of one rotten column on the front porch.
For more information about the auction, please contact the Madison County Historical Society at 435 Main Street, Oneida, NY 13421. Call us at 315.363.4136, or 315.361.9735, or email us at sydney@mchs1900.org, or visit www.mchs1900.org.The New York State Board of Regents granted a charter to the Madison County Historical Society on March 29, 1900.The Madison County Historical Society’s mission is to preserve, collect, promote, and exhibit the history of Madison County and its fifteen towns and one city through the development of programs that enhance the county’s heritage for the people of Madison County and those studying the county’s heritage.  The society’s headquarters, Cottage Lawn, located in Oneida, is an 1849 Gothic Revival Villa designed by prominent architect Alexander Jackson Davis. Cottage Lawn is preserved and operated as a historic museum.

The old saying is if it is raining in August, it must be time for the Madison Bouckville Antique Show.  Wow that could not be further from the truth this year.  The weather at the annual antique week has been down right spectacular.  Yesterday we say sun and 85 degrees, today we are forecast to again hit 85.  The weather for the weekend is set up to be just as nice.  No mud on these field, not this year.  The crowd for Wednesday was a nice crowd, with the parking lot at the visitor center coming within 10 cars of being closed yesterday.  There are deals to be found, and today, the action starts moving towards the main show field in anticipation for the 1000 dealer show put on by Madison Bouckville Management.  You will still find a large number of dealers outside the main show field today, and many people will be looking to get in the black for the week, so don't be afraid to deal.  As always the visitor center at the corner of 12B and Route 20 will be manned, and if you have any questions stop in and see us.

The annual gathering of antiquers and antique dealers had begun along US Route 20 in Madison and Bouckville.  As of yesterday afternoon over 300 dealers had set up and deals and special finds were everywhere.  Today Quaker Acres West opens its field bringing the total number of dealers in town to over 400.  Don't forget you can find all sorts of information at the Madison County Tourism visitor center near the corner of 20 and 12B.  You will also find dealers, flush toilets, food and free parking.  We recommend that you make the visitor center your first stop, then visit the antique fields around it, and keep walking towards Bouckville, or get in your car and move further down the road.  I will post the first slideshow of the year later today so come back for more information on the show. Don't forget to follow us on twitter with updates about the show and the crowds, and the traffic.

With the 1,000 dealer show just a week a away, the antique dealers have started arriving in Madison and Bouckville.  If you are headed out this weekend, you will be able to find some fabulous deals. The action kicks into high gear on Monday and builds every day until the big weekend which starts on the 14th with early buying.  We will be at the visitor center all week long so stop by and say hi.  Keep up with the comings and goings by following us on twitter too. 
Besides antiques, there is much going on in the county this weekend for you to enjoy.  Here are your best bets for this weekend:
1. ART EXHIBITION in Cazenovia-- The work of over 30 local artists will be on display from 11 AM to 4:30 PM in the East Dining Room and lobby of the historic Lincklaen House, 79 Albany St., Cazenovia. The event, organized by Cazenovia Arts, is in conjunction with the sidewalk festival and other activities planned for the day. Admission is free. We invite the "Franklin Car Trekkers" and the public to attend.


2. DeRuyter Fireman's Fair DeRuyter An action packed weekend featuring Horse & cattle Shows, Fireman's Pushball, Parade on the 9th starting at 6:30 pm, Live Music and Fireworks 10 pm August 8th.

3. Blue Highway performs at the Earlville Opera House tonight. Grammy-nominated & IBMA award-winning Bluegrass At the 15-year mark, Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. The band's eight exceptional albums and compelling live performances give proof to the stellar reviews, Grammy nominations, and numerous awards earned by the band since it first took the stage on December 31, 1994. With a deep bench of brilliant songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists, Blue Highway's hallmark is an unwavering commitment to the ensemble, the “democracy of the band” that makes Blue Highway a powerhouse. Tickets: 315-691-3550 or www.earlvilleoperahouse.com $26, $23 members, $21 students

4. Going Nuts! Interpreting the Black Walnut-- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Professor D. Andrew Saunders will lead a fun family program about one of New York's most beautiful and useful trees: the black walnut. Sample tasty treats and learn how to harvest these delicious nuts for yourself! 2:00PM. Free with general admission to the park.