"We are continually evolving. We are a changing canvas," said Rhinebeck Antiques Fair manager Bruce Garrett.

The 29th year for the three 180-plus dealers antiques fairs—May, July, and October—at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York, along the Hudson River, north of Manhattan and south of Albany, run by Garrett and his professional staff opened with the May 28 and 29 event.

The show has been a continuous success story for many of its longtime dealers, though, of course, not for everyone. Ups and downs go with the territory, so Garrett does not change the successful aspects of his show, including the dealer-friendly aspect of a two-day setup and buyer-friendly aspects such as lots of parking, wide aisles, excellent food, and a great system for getting large items from the booths to the buyers. What he is amenable to change is anything that benefits buyers and sellers. Need more porters? Fine.

He runs the show like a business, which it is. He has a weekend format; he does lots of publicity; and he provides an atmosphere conducive to selling and buying antiques, to the wholesale and the retail trade. For example, when someone buys a large object, he pays the dealer and then gets a service tag from that dealer. The buyer takes this paper to the show office, and within minutes the item is removed by the porters to a large tent outside the building. The buyer then can continue to shop, getting more service tags, following the procedures, and everything will be taken to his "space" within the tent. When a buyer is ready to leave the show, he gets into his vehicle, drives from the parking lot the short distance to the tent, and the objects are loaded for him. There is no charge for any of this (tips, as always, are appreciated).

What is changing is the profile of the patrons and what they are buying. We could call it cottage, camp, and garden. There’s more and more 20th century, and we don’t mean 1920’s and 1930’s. We mean 1950’s and 1960’s. Also, decorator stuff has always been popular at the show, especially among the young retail crowd who bring kids in tow. There were lots of hang-on-the-wall stuff, put-in-the-garden stuff, and just plain fun-to-look-at stuff with really no practical use.

Some furniture did sell, including corner cupboards, tables, and sets of chairs. Garrett said that the quantity of large pieces that went through the "porter system" was 20% more than last year’s May show.

What made the difference between the sold items and the waiting to be sold items? "It’s the coolness factor," said Bruce Emond of the Village Braider, Plymouth, Massachusetts. "A piece has to have something special going for it," he added.

"Buyers here are creative and enthusiastic," said Susanne Edgerly of Main Street Antiques, Kent, Connecticut, sharing a booth with Barbara McLean Antiques, Madison, Connecticut. "It’s a pleasure to be part of the show."

"A great mix. Best show for me on the planet," said Marcia Lincoln-Heinz of Newtown, Pennsylvania.

"The promoters are on the ball," said Corinne Burke of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Not everyone raved, of course. One dealer who did not wish to be named said sales were not good for him, especially in Americana, and he found buyers not knowledgeable in that area. One thing all agreed on was that the Rhinebeck Antiques Fairs are not your typical antiques shows, and that’s why they are fun and popular and still evolving, even after 29 years.