Antique show draws massive turnout in Ocean Shores

While the weather was nothing to brag about for one of the most popular beach towns on the Olympic Peninsula, that didn’t stop swaths of people from coming out to partake in a yearly traditional during President’s Day weekend in Ocean Shores.

The 2023 Renewed Antique Show kicked off over the weekend, drawing hundreds of visitors to the town’s well-renowned convention center for the three-day event. Although more than 20 vendors were selling handmade crafts, fine china, farming equipment and other unique vintage materials, some of the most interesting accessories that drew the most attention were old collectibles.

From refurbished hand-held slot machines to a mint condition box of Wheaties with baseball icon Jackie Robinson on the front, collectors looking to sell their generational findings saw much attention.

“I ended up getting into the habit and I got too many of them so I’m here trying to downsize,” said Doug McClare, a clock collector and repairer. “I’m out of it now but it’s a fun and interesting hobby and it helps keep your mind off the troubles in the world.”

Self-describing as being deeply invested in the hobby for nearly two decades, McClare said he has worked on hundreds of clocks that date as far back as the 1800s. Guests could be seen constantly admiring the vast collection of pendulum, mantel and cuckoo clocks.

While some vendors were mere hobbyists looking to make some extra money and storage place back home, other vendors such as creative lamp builder Travis Johansen were present for the event to support their business.

“You’re not using these things as they were originally intended anymore. They’re all lamps now. When I find a cool interesting piece of something, my first thought is, ‘can I make a lamp out of that?’” said Johansen, the owner of the vintage furniture and creative lighting business Coffee and Snacks. “I made one as a gift about 10 years ago and it was so well received that a few years later I quit my job. Now I do this full time.”

Johansen’s business takes electronic items from a modern-day blender to a World War II era phone and transforms them into vintage lamps. His business model helped draw perhaps the largest number of visitors to any booth, as many people found the items to be unique, and also enjoyed the story of how Johansen acquired his material.

Dianne Hansen, the event coordinator for the antique show, praised the community of Ocean Shores for turning out in large numbers for the three-day event and expressed her excitement that people asked for the antique show to return.

“We sold 400 admission tickets in the first hour of opening, which was much higher than we expected. We love the turnout and seeing people walk out of here with antiques and other items they like,” Hansen said. “Based on talking with the vendors and walking around, a lot of people were interested in furniture this year.”

With the event working in conjunction with the Ocean Shores Foodbank, Hansen said multiple bins of food and money donations were collected by the food bank. She didn’t have an estimated amount, but expressed gratitude for people willingly donating.

Contact Reporter Allen Leister at 360-463-3572 or allen.leister@thedailyworld.com