Liberty Antiques Festival
One of the best kept secrets for those who love to antique in North Carolina is the Liberty Antiques Festival. Held about an hour outside of Raleigh, the Liberty Antiques Festival is held twice a year in Liberty, North Carolina, and is a treasure trove of antiques.
While Liberty, North Carolina is a small town with less than 3,000 residents, the Liberty Antiques Festival draws a big crowd each Fall and Spring. More than 400 antique dealers set up tents and tables in a field on a 100-acre farm. This festival is one of our favorite places to shop antiques in North Carolina because it offers a variety of antiques and vintage items and strictly bans reproductions or crafts. You’ll only find true antiques here!
Every year we attend this festival and find lots of antique decor items to add to our vintage picnics!
Location
Pike Family Farm at 2855 Pike Farm Road, Staley, NC
Dates & Times
The Liberty Antiques Festival is held on the last Friday and Saturday of April and the last Friday and Saturday of September.
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
2023 Dates
April Dates: Friday, April 28, 2023 and Saturday, April 29, 2023
October Dates: Friday, September 29, 2023 and Saturday, September 30, 2023
What to Bring
Is it your first time going to the Liberty Antiques Festival and not sure what to bring? As seasoned festival goers, we’ve got you covered! Read on for everything you need to bring to be prepared for a full day of antiquing!
Wagon or Cart- If you plan to hunt for larger or heavy items, like furniture, vases, paintings, or even books, you will want to bring a cart. Many attendees will bring small carts and wagons so they don’t have to carry their purchases. Having a cart will allow you to shop the entire festival before having to return to your car too.
Tote Bag - If you don’t have a wagon or if you simply plan to find smaller, more lightweight items, a large tote bag is a great option to bring to help you carry all of your purchases. We recommend bringing a tote bag you can easily wash afterward, as many items at the festival may have dust or debris due to their age.
Water Bottle - You’ll be doing quite a bit of walking around so we recommend bringing a bottle of water or two to help keep you hydrated while you’re shopping. There are vendors that sell bottled water in case you forget yours at home though.
Cash - The vendors prefer cash and it is usually the only payment option they can accept. You’ll want to bring enough cash for the entry fee ($10) and for any shopping you might do.
Sunscreen, Hat, and Sunglasses - If you’re anything like us, you’ll be at this festival throughout the afternoon. Given that this is all outdoors, that means you’ll be in the peak sun. We like to have sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses on hand to keep ourselves protected from the afternoon sun rays.
What to Wear
Comfortable Clothes - You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so we recommend wearing comfortable clothes. Depending on the time of year, you may also want to bring a light jacket if you’re shopping in the morning or on a cooler day.
Tennis Shoes - Trust us, you will want to be prepared to cover some ground and be on your feet for several hours. We recommend wearing comfortable tennis shoes that will be OK walking through a field. The ground near the vendors is flattened, but the field in the parking lot may have some mud and higher grass. Make sure the tennis shoes you choose can handle some terrain.
Other Things to Know
It takes us about 4.5 hours to get through all the vendors. It may take you more or less time depending on how quickly you shop, but we have found we like to plan for at least 4.5 hours to get through all of the vendors.
The rows of vendors are labeled with letters and numbers. Write down the vendor’s row and number if you see something you want to come back to. Many of the rows look the same and it’s easy to get lost unless you know which letter and row you’re looking to return to.
For the best selection, go on the first day of the festival, but for the best prices and deals, you’ll want to attend on the second day.
About the Author
Angela Byrnes - Owner, Southern Picnics
Angela is the owner of Southern Picnics and started the business in September 2020. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in Writing and Literature. She later attended Duke University where she received a certificate in Digital Media and Marketing.