UC Card Show continues to grow roots in Warren County
Card shows have been packed over the last few months at WCHS. The next show is this Saturday, June 27 starting at 8 a.m.
When the Upper Cumberland Card Show first came to Warren County, there was no guarantee it would work. Now, organizers aren't wondering if people will show up - They're wondering how much bigger it can become.
The monthly event returns to Warren County High School this Saturday, bringing more than 100 vendor tables, over 50 dealers and collectors from across the region for what has quickly become one of Warren County's growing community events.
"It's number seven," Upper Cumberland Card Shows founder Joe Kalis said on Tuesday’s Simmons Says Show. "I can't believe we're already there."
Getting to No. 7 almost never happened.
Kalis had already established successful shows in Cookeville and wasn't looking to add another stop when Warren County High School athletic director Anthony Lippe approached him with an idea.
Lippe had been making the drive to Cookeville with his kid to attend the shows. He enjoyed them enough to wonder why Warren County couldn't have one of its own.
"I thought, 'Man, I'm tired of driving to Cookeville,'" Lippe said. "Honestly, I really did it out of selfishness. I'd rather just do it over here in Warren County."
Kalis wasn't convinced. Running a card show is far more work than most people realize, and adding another location didn't sound appealing.
"When he came to me and said, 'I got an idea,' I'm like, 'I'm busy,'" Kalis laughed about Lippe’s proposals. "Then he says, 'How about you bring a show to McMinnville?' I'm like, 'Uh...what?'"
Lippe didn't stop asking, even after getting a swift ‘No’ from Kalis. Instead, he started selling Warren County.
He pointed to Warren County High School's spacious facility, plenty of parking, local card collectors and a community that would embrace the event. He also promised Kalis something he couldn't find anywhere else.
"I basically just told Joe, 'I'll take care of all the stuff. Just walk in,'" Lippe said. "That's kind of what I do for a living is event planning."
The partnership has become one of the biggest reasons the show continues to return.
Members of Warren County High School's E-sports program set up and take down the hundreds of tables each month, giving students a fundraising opportunity while removing one of the biggest logistical challenges from Kalis' shoulders.
"When he brought me over here, I thought, 'This is legit,'" Kalis said. "The facility is amazing. Anthony's willing to work. The community got involved. How could I say no to this?"
The event has also developed a reputation for being more than a marketplace.
While many collectors arrive looking for rare sports cards, Pokémon cards or memorabilia, Kalis has intentionally built the show around making sure it will be a day to remember for the kids and the parents.
"My concern as a show host is always for the family," Kalis said. "I don't want people coming in and clearing out all the inventory before the families get there. I want to make sure the families are able to find the cards they're looking for."
That's why every show includes free cards for children, raffle giveaways and policies designed to give young collectors the same chance to find their favorite cards as seasoned hobby veterans.
"We have a table that is full of free cards for kids," Heather Kalis said. "I always tell them, 'Take as many as your parents will let you.'"
Those little touches have helped the show become more than just another stop on the hobby circuit - It has become a recurring event families now plan around.
Saturday's show is expected to be one of the biggest yet, featuring more than 100 tables filled with sports cards, Pokémon, memorabilia and collectibles, along with food trucks and vendors from throughout the region.
For Lippe, that's exactly what he envisioned when he first asked Kalis to give Warren County a chance. For Kalis, it's another reminder that one of his fastest-growing shows isn't in Chicago or Nashville - It's in McMinnville.
The Upper Cumberland Card Show will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Warren County High School. Admission is $1, with free raffle drawings, food trucks and activities for collectors of all ages scheduled throughout the day.
