Grab a Centerpiece Card Show brings 60 dealer tables to VFW Post 1060 in Newark, Ohio on Saturday, August 29, 2026, and it has become one of the most talked-about recurring shows in the Licking County and Greater Columbus area. Promoter Don Jones has built the show around a simple idea that clearly works: free admission, a big enough room to matter, and giveaways that keep people walking the floor. Recent editions have included a $100 show cash giveaway and a free dealer table for a future date — a nice touch that rewards attendance rather than just spending.
With 60 tables, the inventory depth is real. Sports card dealers bring both modern and vintage across MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, UFC, boxing, and soccer — singles, sets, and sealed wax. Expect vintage Topps, Bowman, Fleer, and Donruss in the showcases, 1980s and 1990s wax boxes and rack packs, and a wall of modern Panini Prizm, Donruss Optic, Select, Mosaic, Topps Chrome, and prospect-rich Bowman Chrome. Ohio-team material is heavily represented: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Bengals, Browns, Cavaliers, Blue Jackets, and Ohio State Buckeyes cards and memorabilia. Locked cases hold graded PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC slabs. The trading card game side is a genuine strength here, with Pokémon singles and sealed product from vintage WOTC through current Scarlet and Violet releases, plus Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana, and Dragon Ball Z. Additional tables carry autographed memorabilia, comics, Funko Pops, and hobby supplies.
This is a single-day Saturday show with a generous seven-hour window from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM — long enough to work all 60 tables carefully, take a break, and come back for a second pass at anything you were on the fence about. Admission is free for everyone, children included, with no pre-registration or ticketing required. Dealer tables have run $50 each or two for $80, which is worth noting if you are thinking about setting up.
VFW Post 1060 is located at 469 Forry Street, Newark, OH 43055, about 40 minutes east of downtown Columbus via SR-16, and just a few minutes from downtown Newark and the Licking County Courthouse square. Free on-site parking is available at the post. The hall is climate controlled with a clean, easily navigated layout, and the VFW typically has concessions or a bar area open during the show. Downtown Newark and the nearby Granville area offer plenty of lunch options if you want to extend the day.
Who should attend? At 60 tables this show hits a sweet spot — big enough for serious dealers and vintage diggers to find real material, small enough that families, casual collectors, and first-timers do not get overwhelmed. Prospect hunters, set builders, modern flippers, and Pokémon and TCG collectors all have plenty to work with. If you have cards to sell, bring them; multiple tables here buy collections.
To get the most out of your visit, arrive near the 9:00 AM open when boxes are still full and dealers are fresh, then plan a second lap later in the day when sellers get more flexible on price. Bring cash — it is the single best negotiating tool at a show like this — with Venmo or Zelle as a backup. Carry a sorted want list with target prices, and pack penny sleeves, top loaders, and a slab case.
For confirmed dates, table availability, and giveaway details, contact Don Jones at 614-592-0458 or check the Grab a Centerpiece Card Show page on Facebook. The show runs on a recurring schedule with additional fall and winter dates.