One of Central Illinois’ favorite antique shows is returning to Normal on January 30th for its ninth consecutive year.
For the past nine years the Top of the Class Antique and Vintage show has been hosted at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center.

“It has a really wide range of different items,” Doug Jennings, Show Manager, said. “We’ve been able to invite vendors from all over who carry a lot of different things.”

Vendors from all over the Midwest will be at the show, including ones from Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and others throughout Illinois.

While some vendors focus on general antiques, others feature a wide variety of other items such as American primitives, estate jewelry, furniture, art, sports collectibles, glass, pottery, ceramics, and more.

“We try not to have any one dominate theme to the show,” Jennings said. “There are things from the 1700s all the way up through the 1950s, so hopefully no matter what people are looking for, there will be someone there selling it.”

It’s that variety that has made the show a favorite amongst people in the area.

“We often have people come up to us and tell us it’s their favorite show in Central Illinois,” Jennings said. “What they like about it is that our show has the balance that some other shows in the area lack.”

The show draws all kinds of visitors, from antique aficionados to families looking for something to do on the weekend.
“Friday night is when we see a lot of the antique aficionados show up,” Jennings said. “On Saturday you start seeing the other people coming in like families with strollers and students.”

Being held on a college campus helps bring in new customers each year. In order to increase student interest, the show is free on Saturday and Sunday for students with an ID.

The show operates on a volunteer basis and serves as a way to raise money for the Illinois State University School of Communication, of which Jennings is a faculty member.

In addition to helping raise money for the School of Communication, the show gives Public Relation and Communication students a chance to practice their advertising and special event planning skills.

“Each year I have interns that help from day one of planning,” Jennings said. “The interns help plan advertising, write the news releases, and learn about promotions and hospitality.”

The hospitality of the college interns has helped earn the show a special reputation.

“We have a reputation amongst the dealers as being the friendliest show you’ll ever go to in the whole United States,” Jennings said.

One of the concerns people sometimes have about going is parking, which the show has worked to fix.

“We have worked out free parking at the parking lot directly west of the Bone Student Center,” Jennings said.

The show opens Friday, January 30th at 5pm and goes until 8pm. The show is open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is $5 and is valid for all three days.

“If someone sees something they want Friday, they can wait and come back Saturday or Sunday to make the purchase,” Jennings said. “Everything there is one of a kind though, and once it’s gone it’s gone.”

The Bone Student Center is located on the corners of College and University Avenues in Normal.

Photos Courtesy of Top of the Class Antique Show