Beautiful Weekend Weather made for Great Montgomery Antique Festival

The First Saturday of the month is usually reserved for the celebration of the homemade at Montgomery`s Old Community Center, but this past weekend, the community center at the intersection of McCown and College streets, stretching down McCown to Caroline Street, and along and across Liberty Street; were busy with tents and booths of vendors dealing with foods, clothing, toiletries, works of art, and other antiques that made for great bargains at the ‘Montgomery Antique & Unique Festival.’ The event was a huge success with thousands attending from Friday through Sunday, with Friday being a bit of a washout when the rains started after lunch.

The event was organized by Rustic Cashmere owner Kambra Drummond, who works with the City of Montgomery to organize the revived antique festival (from before the pandemic) and the Montgomery ‘Sip & Stroll Local Market’ which is held Thursday’s from April – June, from 4:30-7:30pm. The vendors that populated the Antique & Unique Festival have a great deal of respect for Drummond, and many will attend most any event she organizes.

“The event went very well,” said Drummond. “The vendors are happy, and I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from the vendors and visitors.”

Many of the tents and booths populated the pavement from The Community Center down to The Montgomery Lone Star Art Gallery, where the lot next to The ‘Texas and Beyond Art Gallery’ was abuzz with activity; where a Montgomery Police Officer was posted to assist busy shoppers cross the intersection. Even the brick and mortar stores were very busy as well, with Slish of Amish reporting that they ran out of their famed Grilled Cheese Sandwich baskets by near 2pm on Saturday.

Vendor tents were lined up in the middle of McCown Street in Historic Montgomery and afforded festival goers and antique lovers to pick their choice of clothes, antiques, and foods available

“Business has been brisk,” said ‘This and That Antiques’ owner Delene Maultsby from Conroe, whose tent was posted in the middle of McCown Street in front of Slice of Amish. “The beautiful weather has made up for what Mother Nature threw at us on Friday.”

Many shoppers took their time, and walked around the area examining the goods. Some would stop at the local food trucks, which offered a great variety for whatever the visitors wanted to chow down on. The tents and booths were filled with merchandise to please any taste. This and That Antiques owner Delene Mautlzby was one of the over 60 vendors to the event. Her tent had a smorgasbord of items, ranging from a vintage Coca-Cola salver to a morse code translator.

“I’m glad the antique fair is back in Montgomery,“ said Trin Hiller from the Lufkin area who was visiting and shopping with her daughter from Montgomery. “I love antiquing, and when staying with family here, it is what I love to do.”

One interesting food booth was that of a 2024 Montgomery High School graduate, Allyson Rollfing, whose father owns Extreme Plumbing. Although the 19 year old is a licensed plumber, a capable diesel mechanic, and former motocross champion. After she married last year, she has since taken up baking and canning, starting her own company ‘Redneckery Bakery,’ which she plans to open with a brick and mortar shop off of FM 1097 later this year. She is well versed in breads, cakes, jams and jellies in a jar, as well as cup cakes.

“I have been selling a lot of cupcakes and breads,” said Rollfing, who was accompanied by her trusty dog. “I’m looking to expand my business beyond my kitchen very soon.”

The reemergence of the Montgomery Antique & Unique Festival is certainly an event that will be renewed annually in Historic Montgomery. Any event that requires an engaged search for parking in Montgomery is one that deserves an annual return to our fair town.