(5/8) On Saturday, May 19, rain or shine, all roads will lead to historic Gettysburg, PA. From 7:00am to 4:00pm, antique and collectible seekers will converge upon the quaint streets for their semi-annual quest for treasure. One hundred twenty-five East Coast dealers from the North and South arrive before dawn to their designated vendor spaces surrounding the hub of Lincoln Square and spawning into sidewalks and street areas of Baltimore, York, Chambersburg and Carlisle Streets.

Each dealer creatively sets up for merchandising his/her wares to thousands of buyers returning for items of the rare and unusual kind. Creative use of space, combined with prideful displays of quality antiques and collectibles, add to the flavor of the day within this historic downtown setting.

The show is billed as a "buyers and sellers" paradise, as it continually maintains a reputation of quality antiques and collectibles. Items range from primitive cupboards, sideboards, benches, farm tables, wooden boxes, to lamps, coins, pattern glass, art glass, Depression glass, and ironstone, as a sampling. You will also find clocks, gold jewelry, rings, pictures, pocket knives, bottles, old toys, crocks, jugs, old linens, lace, dolls, pocket watches, old guns, holiday collectibles, postcards, and country farm items. Brand name pieces of Heisey, Cambridge, Fostoria, R.S. Prussia, Limoges, Haviland, Rockwood, Roseville, and carnival glass will also be featured.

The show began in 1967 within the parking lot of Gettysburg Junior High School, with show co-founders George Lower and Norris Minter having a two-fold goal and vision. The goal was to create an outdoor antique show designed to bring retail traffic to historic downtown Gettysburg. Secondly, the goal/vision was to generate revenue to help fund the "Candle Gettysburg" project for the Gettysburg Retail Merchants Association. Funds were earmarked to purchase candles to place in windows of local retail merchants, endorsing a symbol of welcome.

Nine years after its origin, Gettysburg native, Wayne Schultz, accepted the show’s organizational challenge and has pledged to keep the momentum on-going. For 31 consecutive years, Wayne Schultz has been building show success as the entire community embraces this semi-annual event.

Before dawn on antique show day, local Boy Scout Troop #79 from St. James Lutheran Church can be seen circling the show scene distributing tables to the dealers who have chosen to conveniently rent tables for the show. Also, within the early hours of this day, you will see eager shoppers lining up at the Presbyterian Church in anticipation of bargains and values from the church’s semi-annual rummage sale in the church basement. You will experience many other civic non-profit groups utilizing this event to accent their fundraising challenges by offering baked goods and refreshments. Groups such as the Gettysburg YWCA, the American Legion, and the local chapter of the Moose, to name a few, are scattered throughout the sidewalk areas. The Gettysburg Garden Club hosts a perennial plant sale during this event, which adds color and bargains for show goers. Another big show highlight of the day is the aroma and activity which flourishes in front of the historic G.A.R. Building (Grand Army of the Republic) on East Middle Street in Gettysburg. You will discover an authentic black butcher kettle suspended over a wood fire, cooking a civil war recipe of Yankee Bean Soup, along with a pig roast. The G.A.R. Building is open to show goers to sit, relax, and enjoy the historic atmosphere of town murals while feasting upon this marvelous food. Volunteers also walk along the streets of the show "peddling" this famous soup to vendors and customers as a convenience.

Comfort Stations are strategically place around town, and the local businesses have signs posted for facilities. Parking is available at the Race Horse Alley Parking Plaza, and metered parking is available at the municipal lots on East Middle Street and South Stratton Street. Hometown pride and spirit continue to embrace this event, making it a fun-filled day for all ages.

The proceeds from the semi-annual event continue to support the activities of the Gettysburg Retail Merchants Association.

Inquiries should be directed to Wayne Schultz, 109 Hoke Drive, Gettysburg, PA 17325. The Spring Outdoor Antique show for 2007 is scheduled for Saturday, May 19; while the Fall Outdoor Antique show will take place on Saturday, September 22.

Information can also be obtained by calling the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-337-5015 or 717-334-6274. You can also learn more by logging onto www.gettysburg.travel.