New venue, same quality for Curio Collective vintage show

By Jordan Parker

The Curio Collective is ready to celebrate spring and sell antique wares to Haligonians.

Founder Brigid Milway – who is also a vendor for her business What, These Old Things? – is excited to bring the event back to the area. It will go Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The Collective represents a chance for this region’s vintage and antiques sellers to come together for a wonderful, big market,” she said.

“We want to get back to seasonal shows. We did so in 2019, and began to get back to normal last year.”

They are once again hoping to do four – one for each season – and have 40 sellers on-hand for this spring edition.

“It’s just a really lovely, huge market for likeminded folks in the vintage community, and all sorts of shoppers,” said Milway.

They’ve had a few different venues over the years, but are excited to be at The Light House Arts Centre for this iteration.

“This is our first ever time in the Light House, and the first event in the space. It’s exciting, and they’re a gorgeous events venue,” she said.

“It’s an amazing venue, meant for live shows. It’s such a multi-purpose space and a community space,” she said. “We are so stoked to be there, and they’ve been incredible to work with.”

While COVID-19 made shows like this difficult, Milway has been taking it in stride.

“There were so many things to navigate, from my own comforts to those of customers. With vaccine passes and regulations, there was a lot to think about,” she said.

“But we’re so excited for this venue with open spaces, and vendors will be masked. We recommend so for customers, but want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible.”

This will be a huge event for the Curio Collective, but Milway feels like she’s in good hands.

“I’m so excited to break the space in. I’m not nervous at all. The Light House team has been incredible. All we have to do is show up and do our thing,” she said.

Door prizes include a Downtown Halifax-sponsored $100 in gift cards to local shops, as well as a two night stay at the Blueberry Guesthouse in Cocagne, N.B.

“One of our sellers sponsored that. Joe from Watch Your Head Antiques owns it, and he has his antique shop on-site there,” she said. “There wouldn’t be a better vacation.”

They’re donating part of the proceeds to the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre this year as well.

“We partnered with them last year. We love this downtown organization. They do so much community outreach and work with Indigenous community members, as well as those who are homeless. We admire what they do,” she said.

After some strange years, Milway is ready to get people back to normal again.

“It’s been a long, hard winter. The day after our Christmas show, Omicron broke out. We’ve been waiting for this,” she said. “The sun is out, the moon is high, and we want to join together with folks.”

She tells people to come enjoy the long weekend, and join the Curio Collective.

“The Blue Nose Marathon will be in town. There will be some street closures, but there will still be tons of parking at the waterfront and Scotia Square,” she said.

“Plan your route for a successful trip. The downtown will be hopping, and it’ll be a fun place to be.”

The Curio Collective’s Spring Vintage Show runs Saturday and Sunday from 10-5, at the Light House Arts Centre, at 1800 Argyle Street. Admission is $5, and kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit facebook.com/thecuriocollectivens/

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