Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1532782
Jim Kastleman JACK THOMPSON T he vast majority of tourism and commerce in Round Top occurs during the antiques and design shows. Over the two-plus-week spring and fall shows, about 150,000 visitors pass through the area — at least that's a generally accepted figure. The shorter winter show, while growing — and which was very robust this year in January — is not nearly as big. I don't even know if I could take a guess at the numbers, and they fluctuate depending on the weather. Tourism in Round Top has always been a hot topic. Locals, whom I'd define as ranging from generational land owners to the newcomers who came out here 20-plus years ago, don't necessarily like strangers wandering the streets of their wonderful town. Of course, the business owners require these visitors to thrive, and they want more. The newer-comers over the past decade or so are mostly accepting because they often migrated from bigger cities. One thing is sure: The town is substantially dead during the week, with only a handful of places to eat and shop. This makes it harder for events, such as company meetings and retreats and even individual groups gathering, to choose Round Top as their destination during mid-week or non-show times. Until now. In coordination with a handful of top shops and hospitality outlets, Round Top Unlocked has emerged as a one-stop shop for event planners or any group looking to come to Round Top either during the week or weekend. This will bridge the gap between "nothing to do" and "let's get a group and go to Round Top on Tuesday." As for off-season programming, the first annual Round Top Film Festival was an Oscar winner. The four-day event saw 40-plus showings, including an advance screening of the über-hit Landman and parties, talks, and a ton of hospitality. The Schanen family — the founders — and their team knocked it out of the park. Fantastic news: Based on the public and industry accolades, the show will go on, with a festival in 2025 and the expectation that it will be an ongoing annual event. Enjoy the show. Jim Kastleman Chairman jim@papercitymag.com Future Antiques & Design Show Dates SPRING 2025: MARCH 20 – APRIL 6, 2025 FALL 2025: OCTOBER 9 – 26, 2025 WINTER 2026: JANUARY 22 – 25, 2026 *As always, consult Roundtop.com for the latest venue-specific dates. facebook.com/Roundtoptx @roundtopguidebypapercity