Annual Bangor antiques show sports new format

The Bangor Junior League’s Antique Show & Sale, now in its 51st year, will offer a blend of the new and the traditional when it opens its doors this weekend at the Bangor Civic Center.

Giving the fund-raiser what it calls a “face-lift,” the organizers of this year’s benefit will debut a selection of fine art and extend Friday and Saturday hours, with no show Sunday. This year’s consolidated show will involve approximately 50 select antiques and collectibles dealers from throughout New England.

The annual fall show opens Friday night with a Preview Night Reception and Sale. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., the preview offers ticket holders early buying opportunities, as well as classical music, wines and hors

d’oeuvres. Friday’s preview also includes a silent auction during which thousands of dollars’ worth of items donated by the show’s antique dealers and local businesses will be sold.

Mary Marin Lyon, the organization’s public relations chairwoman, says that while reservations are preferred for this preview event, tickets are available for $22.50 until the time of the opening. Call 990-0367 for more information or to make a reservation.

The doors are open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. In addition to the antiques, fine arts and collectibles, antique show and sale patrons who visit the Civic Center Saturday can satisfy their hunger pangs at the Harvest Moon Caf?. The menu includes homemade soups, salads,

crabmeat rolls and desserts.

The Junior League, whose members volunteer many hours for community projects, is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

The Junior League uses proceeds from the antiques show, its major yearly fund-raiser, to support projects benefiting residents of eastern Maine, such as Literacy Volunteers of America and the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor.

As part of its work to improve literacy, Lyon said, the Junior League operates a learning center for children and adults residing at Park Woods, a transitional housing development near the intersection of Union Street and Griffin Road. The learning center provides such support as help with homework and extra work in writing and reading comprehension, computer skills and life skills.

Tickets for preview night are $22.50 and include Saturday admission to the show. Pre-sale show tickets, available through Friday from Junior League members, are $4. Tickets at the door Saturday are $5 each. For more information, call 990-0367.