A perennial favorite is marking a milestone this year.

That favorite, the Mark Twain Lake Antique Show and Sale - will host its 40th annual event. That’s a substantial run for anything, especially for something that predates the Internet and its little brother, eBay, which have forever changed the way antiques are sold, purchased and collected.

For $5, enthusiasts can attend the show, held this Saturday, March 23 at Paris High School. Boasting about 40 premium dealers, the show promises a cross section of stoneware, clocks, quilts, primitives, antique furniture and much more.

Sponsored by the ladies of Xi Beta Xi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi chapter in Paris, it was an effort started to benefit charitable causes in its host community. Its beginnings were a true grassroots effort, again, in a pre-Internet era, which meant groundwork was laid by traditional methods.

“The first year the group had to cover a huge long distance telephone bill to try to convince the original 19 antique dealers to participate in our first ever antique show in a small community,” said one of the organizers, Marcie Buckman. 

That phone bill, Buckman jokes, was comparable to the national debt. Initially, the group decided to host the first show in April of 1983 but soon realized that April was a busy month with all the women having school-age children.  

“Within a couple years the show was changed to the standard fourth Saturday in March,” said Buckman, “and the show has stayed on that date since.” 

Longevity is a testament to the show’s top-notch offerings, making it one of the longest-running antique shows in the state. And the group’s enthusiasm to support the financial needs of the community has not lessened since its inception. 

“They have only had to cancel in 2020 because the school closed for COVID,” Buckman said, “and in 2021 because of COVID to respect the safety of our older patrons.”

The show’s return was enthusiastically received, with attendance coming back strong. Missing for COVID, the patrons returned to our small community in even larger numbers.  

COVID wasn’t the only pivot in the show’s history, as Buckman notes.

“In 1997 the ladies had to haul floor tarps, tables and everything at the last minute to be able to hold that year’s show after Paris high had a fire,” she said. “Thanks to Madison high school they were able to host the show that year.”

Every year the show continues to grow in attendance with patrons coming from all over Missouri including the St Louis and Kansas City area and parts of Illinois and Iowa.   

Beneficiaries from show proceeds have included schools including scholarships, donating to graduation parties, helping to fund awarded students trips, providing to families who have lost homes to fires and experiencing harsh medical tragedies as well as contributing to Monroe Cancer Supporters. Each year the group hosts the Halloween Parade and the annual Easter egg hunt - this year’s is set for March 30. The group has purchased playground equipment for the fairgrounds and provides funds for summer baseball, the cemetery, volunteer firefighters and the ambulance district. 

“The group encourages local residents to join show goers to help support the community,” Buckman said. 

This year’s show will feature about 40 dealers from five states: Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Wisconsin.  Each year repeat dealers sign up are mailed postcard reminders of the show. 

“This year the group decided to reward everyone signing up to receive a postcard by putting them in a drawing to be held at show’s end to award the lucky winner a $100 Visa card,” Buckman said.

Drinks, sandwiches, and homemade soups and pies will be served in the cafeteria.   

Paris High School is located at 25686 Bus Hwy 24 Paris, Mo.