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Antique Alley Texas celebrates 25 years of treasure hunting in Johnson & Ellis county. Eight cities currently participate: Grandview, Cleburne, Maypearl, Alvarado, Venus, Keene, Joshua and Waxahachie. For days/hours of operation, contact each fleamarket, event venue or retail store to determine their participation (an online and hard copy directory with contact information is published right before the event occurs). Several fields on FM 4 (East) between Grandview and Cleburne are full of vendors and food trucks, with some special events hosted by individual organizers. Since 1999, AAT happens on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday every April and September. It is loosely organized by small business owners, some chambers of commerce, farms/ranches and other local business groups. Sundays are very slow because many vendors don’t set up due to religious reasons. So if shoppers want the full experience (home made fried pies, made right before your very eyes!) that are offered by Mennonite families, then you’ll want to plan to attend Friday or Saturday. Vendors in the fields usually get a head-start setting up for the festival making it a prime environment for “early bird” shoppers! You can’t see everything in a day! Better book the entire weekend! Sundays are good for bargains because most sellers don’t want to pack up their wares, they’d rather sellout! AAT is rain or shine. Only flash flood warnings, tornado warnings or other emergencies would cause cancellation of the event. County and city government directives are followed when inclement weather/pandemic, or other circumstances warrant cancellation. Don’t let a rainy day keep you away! Often times better bargains can be had on a wet day. Dress to conditions! Mud boots, umbrellas or comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen are always a good idea. Bring some cash in case you find a treasure at a yard sale! Brick and mortar businesses (small retail shops and cafes) look forward to the uptick in shopping traffic. They usually offer special deals to visitors during Antique Alley! What to find? Anything and everything! Food trucks are scattered throughout the scattered event. In the rural areas one might come across an Alpaca farm with petting zoos, gift shops and more. The downtown areas in each of the eight communities will have local retail stores featuring their assorted antiques & collectibles, vintage décor and housewares. There will be clothing and accessories, furniture, garden statuary, plants, flowers, western horse tack and décor, handmade art and crafts, junkers’ delights, new, old, you get the idea! Classic car and truck enthusiasts are prolific in the area. There may be a tractor club display, musical entertainment and/or wine tastings offered by area vineyards. Every Antique Alley shapes up differently! Do not park on the side of the highway. This is a ticketable offense as it is a safety issue. Flea market operators should always offer off-road parking. Be safe, drive friendly; it’s Texas’ BEST treasure hunt!