From coast to coast, there are a lot of shows happening this weekend. The amazing Atlantique City is happening in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and that's a must-see show if you're into antique anything! The aisles are packed with everything from jewelry to furniture, to glassware, to pottery, to toys...you get the idea!

   A quick search turned up a wide variety of shows for fans of old cars, old toys, and comics. It's going to be a gorgeous weekend, so find a local show and enjoy the day.

California

March 29 & 30, Pleasanton. 26th ALL AMERICAN GET-TOGETHER Fairgrounds - Pleasanton. All years American Powered Cars & Trucks. Vendors, Huge Swap Meet & Car Corral. For additional information call 925-838-9876 or visit www.good-guys.com

Mar 29, City of Industry . Sat. Comic Book & Collectible Show. 19649 San Jose Ave, SH: 10am-5pm, T: 250, A: free. Frank Zamarripa, 19649 San Jose Ave., City of Industry, CA 91748. PH: 909-444-7955.

Delaware

Mar 30, Newark . Sports Card, Comic Book, & Collectible Show, Aetna Fire Hall. 400 Ogletown Rd., SH: 10am-3pm, T: 50, A: $2, 12 & under free. PH: 302-559-7962.

Florida

Mar 27-30, Palm Beach. 6th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event: South Florida Fair Grounds & Expo Center, 9067 Southern Blvd, West Palm Beach, Florida 33411. PH 480-421-6694 or http://www.barrett-jackson.com/ .

Mar 29, Pensacola. 1st Annual Panhandle Cruisers National Car Show. Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. 7am-5pm. PH: 251-946-3327 or http://www.panhandlecruisers.org/

Mar 29, Vero Beach. 31st Annual Antiques Auto Show. Riverside Park. SP: Indian River Reg.-AACA. Clark Ballard, 1115 Buckhead Dr. SW, Vero Beach, FL 32968. PH: 772-567-8920.

Mar 29, Leesburg. Motorcycle & Classic Car Cruise In. Gator Harley-Davidson, 1745 US Hwy. 441. 4pm-8pm. PH: 352-787-8050 or www.Gatorharley.com

Mar 30, Ocala. Live Oak Carriage & Car Show. Hosted by Kingdom Of The Sun Region AACA. S.W. 110th Ave, 1.4 miles South of HWY 40. Vehicles model years 1975 & older are invited to participate in 10 different classes. Registration closes at 11:30am prizes awarded at 3pm. For more information call Carolyn Smith 352-368-3880 or email: skiss1937@embarqmail.com . http://www.cailiveoak.com/ .

Hawaii

Mar 30, Honolulu . Wiki Wiki One Day Collectibles & Hawaiiana Show, Blaisdell Center Hawaii Suites. 777 Ward Ave., SH: 10:30am-4:30pm, A: $3.50., kids 7-11 $2. Ilene Wong, PH: 808-941-9754.

Illinois

Mar 30, Wheaton. 17th Annual B.O.P.C. Swap (Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Cadillac) at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton, IL. For information call Dave Pastrick at 630-357-8083 or Rich Barnas at 708-481-7973

Mar 30, Countryside. Collector’s Classic Toy Show. Park Place, 6240 Joliet Rd. 10am-2pm, A: $6. Jim Welytok, PH: 262-246-7171 or http://www.uniqueeventsshows.com/

Indiana

Mar 30, Indianapolis . Super Sunday Indy Automotive Swap Meet & Car & Truck Sale. Indiana State Fairgrounds, West Pavilion, 1202 E. 38th St. 8am-3pm. PH: 708-563-4300 or http://www.supersundayindy.com/

Mar 30 Ft. Wayne . Comic & Sci-Fi Convention, Don Hall’s Guesthouse. Conference Center, 1313 W. Washington Ctr. Rd., I-69 exit 111, SH: 10am-4pm, T: 39-8', F: $55., A: $3., 6 & under free. Jeff Harper, PO Box 24, Uniontown, OH 44685. PH: 330-499-6056.

Iowa

Mar 30, Marshalltown. 35th Annual Swap Meet. Marshall Cty. Fairgrounds. 7am-1pm. SP: Area Restorers Region, Inc.-AACA. Marshalltown Area Restorers, PH: 641-753-5839, 752-3041 or 319-345-2306.

March 28 & 29, Dyersville: 7th Annual Midwest Toy Truck & Construction Show at the National Farm Toy Museum. Hours: Fri. 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For info call (712) 889-2961.

Louisiana

Mar 29-30, DeRidder. LA Slow Roller's Car Show. Washington St. Daryl Smith, 1015 W. 10th St., DeRidder, LA 70634. 337-463-8989.

Maryland

Mar 30, Aberdeen . 4th Annual Slot Car Show & Swap Meet, Clarion Hotel. 980 Hospitality Way, SH: 10am-2pm, A: $5., 12 & under free. Douglas Keys, 6831 Beaverdam Rd., Beltsville, MD 20705. PH: 301-474-6596.

Massachusetts

Mar 30, Maynard. 14th Annual " Winter Blahs" Swap 'n Sell. Elks Lodge, 34 Powdermill Rd. (Rt. 62 near Rt. 27). 7:30am-12noon. SP: Minuteman Model A Ford Club. Craig Martin, PH: 978-562-2390.

Mar 30, South Attleboro . Toys, Comic Book, Non-Sport Cards & Coll. Show, K of C. 304 Highland Ave., SH: 10am-3pm, A: $3. My Mummy Productions, Harry Martin, PH: 508-384-8491.

Minnesota

March 29 & 30, Fairmont: 10th Annual D&S Railroad and Farm Toy Show in the Five Lakes Shopping Centre. Hours: Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For info call (507) 235-5026.

Nebraska

March 30, Falls City: Annual Knights of Columbus Farm Toy Show at Prichard Auditorium, 312 West 17th Street, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For info call (402) 245-2797 (day).

New Jersey

Mar 29-30, Atlantic City . Atlantique City Show. Convention Center, One Miss America Way. PH: 800-526-2724.

New York

March 30, Malverene. Greater New York Region of AACA indoor swap meet. Event will be held at the American Legion Post 1 Legion Place, Malverene. Admission is $3. For info call Violet at 718-843-3490 or Bill at 516-764-0611.

Ohio

Mar 29, Jefferson. Swap Meet. SP: Western Reserve Chapter-AACA. David Payne, 3518 Austinburg Rd., Ashtabula, OH 44004.

Pennsylvania

Mar 28-30, Reading. Indoor Rod & Custom Show. Berkshire Mall. SP: Pretzel City Rod & Custom. Mick Dornes, PH: 610-856-7097.

Mar 30, Altoona. BCAAC Super Spring Swap Meet. Blair Co. Convention Ctr. SP: Blair Cty. Antique Auto Club. Dale Crum, 710 Brush Oaks Dr., Altoona, PA 16602. PH: 814-946-4745.

Mar 29-30, Pittsburgh . Steel City Con, Expo Mart. SH: Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 10am-4pm, A: $7. Orangestone Promotions Inc., PH: 814-262-0503.

Tennessee

Mar 28-29, Sevierville. Corvette Expo. Events Ctr., 6 mi. off I-40, Exit 407. PH: 865-687-3976 or http://www.corvetteexpo.com/

Texas

Mar 28-30, Bowie. Auto Swap Meet. SP: Piston Heads Auto Club. Freddie Lebetter, PH: 940-872-9643 or Kato Verden, PH: 940-872-4089 or http://www.bowieautoswapmeet.bravehost.com/

Mar 28-30, Salado. 31st Annual TX Packard Meet. Stagecoach Inn. SP: TX Packard Assoc. Beverly Clark, 735 Ware, San Antonio, TX 78221. PH: 210-922-1300.

Wisconsin

Mar 30, Franklin. Milwaukee Slot Car Show. Crystal Ridge Ski Hill, 7900 W. Crystal Ridge Dr. 9am-1pm. PH: 414-573-8903.

Mar 29 Madison . Comic Book Show, Comfort Inn & Suites. 4822 E. Washington, SH: 10am-4pm, A: free. Alan, PH: 309-657-1599.

   The cure for cabin fever has to be a toy show. Hands down, there's nothing better than walking and talking your way through a show to chase the winter blues away. And when you attend a show as well-established as the Beecher farm toy show, you find a wonderful mix of veteran dealers who are very knowledgeable about the items on their tables.

   I found a number of new additions to my collection, including a 1986 Ertl Farmall H in its box. I love the Farmall H, and seldom pass one up. I also found a couple of 6" Thundercats figures and two copies of the oversized Star Wars comic book -- hey, they were only $2 each!

   But the real treat of the show was discovering the dealer who had the Product Miniatures Cockshutt Co-Op tractor with its original box. I've never seen one in person, and it was a joy to find it.

   Here are some photos from the day:

Chuck Eckel of World of Trucks has been a dealer at the Beecher farm toy show for more than 20 years. In addition to scale die-cast trucks, he offered scale corn and hay bales to display with your trucks.

Veteran farm toy dealers Don and Kathy Obermeyer offered this gorgeous Product Miniatures Cockshutt Co-Op tractor (right). At an asking price of $550, its a toy for serious collectors. Yes, that's a Product Minatures Farmall M on the left, but I already have one of those.

   The 23rd Annual Beecher FFA Toy & Craft Show is this Saturday, March 15. The show is held in the gymnasium of Beecher High School, in the town of (you guessed it) Beecher, Illinois. With a name like Beecher, you might think it’s one of the towns nestled along Lake Michigan’s shores, but it’s actually about 37 miles south of Chicago along the historic Rt. 1 (a.k.a. Rt. 394 today).

   I’ve attended this show with my dad in years past – we haven’t been to Beecher in a number of years – and was always pleased with the variety of toys present. Honestly, craft shows aren’t our thing, so we skip those tables and head straight for the toys. As I recall, a few pressed steel pieces made their way into dad’s collection via this show, and it’s a good lesson in keeping an open mind and an open eye when attending farm toy shows.

   The show is sponsored by the Beecher FFA and the Ag Advisory Council, and all proceeds go to Agriculture Scholarship – so you know your $3 admission fee and the money you spend on a hot dog for lunch are going to a worthy cause. (Heck, have two hot dogs!)

   Weather permitting, dad and I are headed down Il. Rte. 1 on Saturday, hope to see you there!

   Here’s the show info:

23rd Annual Beecher FFA Toy & Craft Show

Saturday, March 15, 2008

9am to 2pm

Beecher High School

538 Miller St, Beecher, IL 60401

Admission: $3 adults, $1 students

Sherrie Jepsen (708) 946-2266

Kelly Koehne (708) 417-8695

Pedal pull at noon.

Toy Auction at 2:15

   Plastic collectors will gather in force at the DuPage Co. Fairgrounds this Sunday for the 51st Illinois Plastic Kit & Toy Show. If you're into model kits, promotional cars, '50s and '60s plastic toys (yes, those former dimestore toys are collectible, folks!), and anything else plastic, this is the show for you.

   It's a great place to find vintage kits and bins full of plastic parts for you kit bashers. This is one of those shows I grew up attending, and I have vivid memories of searching for (and finding) promos of 1960s Fords, especially those gorgeous 1965 Ford Galaxies.

   Here's the show info:

51st Illinois Plastic Kit & Toy Show

DuPage Co. Fairgrounds

2015 W. Manchester Rd.

Wheaton, IL

Show hours: 9am – 3pm

Admission: $5

For more information contact:

Past-Time Hobbies Inc.

(630) 969-1847

www.pthinc.com

pthpowerinc@aol.com

   Okay, if farm toys aren’t your cup of tea this weekend, how about a model car contest and toy show? The Southwest Wisconsin Auto Club is hosting its 17th annual event this Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Baymont Inn & Convention Center in Belmont, Wisconsin. (It's on the way to Platteville.)

   Check out their Web site here. Looks like a nice show with a good variety of toys. And for those of you who build models, I’d say you’re in for a great day. Enjoy!

Here’s the show info:

17th Annual Model Car & Toy Show

Baymont Inn & Convention Center

Hwy. 151, Exit 26

Hours: 10am – 3:30pm

Hosted by the Southwest Wisconsin Auto Club

Contact: Steve Swift (608) 762-5605

   If you're heading out to the show, take some pictures and send them in -- I'll be happy to post them here.

   Based on the horrific weather lately, you might expect that I'd be snow-bound and downing unhealthy quantities of hot chocolate. Well, you'd be right about the hot chocolate, but there's a small window of less horrific weather approaching this Sunday. Just in time for me to head over to Marshfield, Wisconsin, for the 22nd Annual Central Wisconsin Farm Toy Show.

   It's held at the Marshfield High School field house (big gymnasium), so it's easy to find. The doors open at 9am and close at 3pm. The event is sponsored by the Marshfield FFA and the FFA Alumni, so it's a good event for an organization certainly worth supporting.

   Organizer Mark Vornholt usually has attractions at the show in addition to all of the fine toy dealers. I enjoyed the farm displays on my last trip, but the real vintage tractors resting in the aisles were pretty awesome to see up close.

   If you're suffering from cabin fever, hold on 'til Sunday, Feb. 3 and join us for a very cool event. Here's the info:

22nd Annual Central Wisconsin Farm Toy Show, Marshfield High School, Admission $2 for adults, ages 10-17 $1, under 10 free. For more information contact Mark Vornholt at (715) 743-7152

   Sunday at the Nationals began early -- daylight savings time will do that to you. I headed out to the tents at 6:30, but there wasn't much activity. Sunday mornings take a little while to get rolling. By 7am a few tents were open and early bird buyers were ducking inside to avoid the chilly breezes -- and yes, I remembered my gloves this time!

   I stopped by Glen's tent as I did on Saturday, and noticed that several gorgeous pressed steel pieces had found new owners. He still had the wooden Buddy L fire station set with its two vehicles --- it was in pristine condition and I've never seen one at all, let alone in that condition.

   Back at Beckman, I shopped for a while and discovered two more Hubley tractors that I couldn't resist. When folks ask me what I collect, I must admit I'm tempted to say, "I collect whatever isn't pictured in the latest edition of my book!" But those Hubleys are charming and I'm taking them to our photo studio tomorrow. I'll have images up soon.

   The Sunday crowds in Hallway 2 aren't in a fever pitch to discover every last toy on their wish lists, they socalize a bit more and take time to really enjoy the show. It's a more relaxed feel, and I always ask people with bags stuffed with toys what they bought. One collector found a Dealer's Edition 1:16-scale Ertl New Holland with triples that was so big, he admitted that he wasn't sure where he was going to display it. He just had to have it, and we all understand that!

   Packing up at the end of the show was relatively painless, I sold quite a few boxes of books, which meant only a few trips back and forth to load the enormous Chevy Suburban I was driving. Yes, that was me in the white Suburban with the cover of the new edition taped to the back window!

   The extremely cool thing about packing up and driving away is the amount of waves and well-wishes for a safe trip home that you give and receive. I've never seen a show where all of the exhausted dealers take special time out to shake hands and wish you well and promise to see you next year -- even the dealers that weren't set up anywhere near your table. It's just one more thing that makes this show a truly special event.

   I'll have picutres soon. Mark your calendar for the first weekend in November and make plans to attend next year, you'll be glad you did.

p.s. We called Dick C. and all is well -- he just couln't make the trip this year. But he'll be back at the Smith-Miller table next year.

   Saturday at the Nationals begins in the pre-dawn hours. The outdoor vendors were up and active around 6:30am and yours truly was there for the freezing fun. A word of advice if you're joining the early morning tent explorations: bring a good pair of gloves and wear them! Although the daily temperatures were to reach the mid-50s, the early morning was drenched in a deep frost and temps were only around 30.

   Outside, you'll be amazed by the quantity and variety of pedal tractors and pedal cars, as well as the availability of pressed steel. Most vendors offer pressed steel, usually in a less than mint condition, but a few dealers had fine examples. Always fond of Tiny Tonkas, my first purchase of the day was a Hot Rod in its box. I also found a Hubley Kiddie Toy tractor that was well-played but completely intact for just $2. Picking up the cold tractor, I realized that I'd left my gloves back in the truck -- big mistake.

   Back at Beckman High School, the 8 to 9am hour is for floor rights patrons and dealers. It was my first opportunity to walk around the dealer tables, and I enjoyed every minute. There are toys here that I've only seen pictured in my book, and every step was an education. I added the first Auburn Rubber toy to my collection as I strolled through the gymnasium and discovered a tractor with driver. You know the one where the driver's head is tilted over to the left? It's that one, in a nice orange color.

    Hallway 2 was busy the entire day, and I'd be willing to guess that the attendance for this year's show is one of the best ever. I really never had another opportunity to leave the Toy Shop table and shop. Many thanks to the Toy Shop and Toy Cars & Models readers who stopped by the table --I enjoyed talking toys with you all. I must have, I was hoarse by the end of the day!!

   The Standard Catalog of Farm Toys 3rd Edition was very well-recieved, and several collectors who picked it up on Friday came back today to give the title a "thumbs up." I'm looking forward to receiving feedback from readers around the country, so don't be shy about contacting me.

   Tomorrow, the show wraps up and I'll be sorry to see the weekend end. I only see most of these folks once a year, and I've enjoyed their company.

   Catch you tomorrow!

Welcome to Farmtoyland!!!

A perfect fall day made for ideal travel to Dyersville where I was greeted by familiar faces in Beckman High School's Hallway 2. One notable exception was Dick C., who is the representative for Smith-Miller. I hope all is well and that he makes it to the show tomorrow. Dick C's table is located next to the Toy Shop table and talking toys with him throughout the show is always an education and a genuine pleasure.

Fridays at the show are always a bustle of activity. I arrived around 2pm and had to hurry to get the table set up before the show opened to floor rights patrons at 3. The general public was admitted at 6pm and the school enjoyed steady traffic until the 9pm close.

I really didn't get to peruse the tables, but did head straight for the Toy Farmer table to pick up this year's show model, the 1:64-scale Case 2470. It is another in their series of vintage 4WD tractors, and will be a fine addition to my collection. I also picked up the latest edition of Dick's Farm Toys Price Guide, a valuable reference and one that inspires my own research into farm toys -- there's an awful lot to know, and Dick Sonnek does a terrific job.

THe solid crowds prevented me from doing much socializing with the other members of Hallway 2 (easily one of the best parts about the Nationals), but I'll snap some photos and catch up with these wonderful folks tomorrow. If you come to the show, be ready to talk toys, everyone here has a wealth of knowledge that can help you get more out of the hobby than you ever imagined.

I was visited by a number of collectors from the Netherlands who had very kind words about the Standard Catalog of Farm Toys -- this hobby has really gone global, and I'm looking forward to talking farm toys with enthusiastic collectors in Europe.

Well, that's it for tonight, I'm exhausted!!

More fun farm toy stories tomorrow. And by tomorrow, I don't mean the 8am dealer hour, this show starts for the day when the outside dealers open their tents, sometime around 6:30am!!! I'll be there!