The Northeast Kansas Card Show breaks from its usual Sunday pattern for a Halloween Saturday edition at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds in Lawrence on October 31, 2026. Moving to Saturday for this one date changes the dynamic — it pulls in collectors who cannot normally make the Sunday shows, and the fairgrounds exhibition building takes on a distinctly seasonal feel with families passing through in costume before the evening.
The floor holds the series' usual strong sports focus. MLB spans vintage Topps and Bowman through current prospect product, with reliable Royals and Cardinals depth. NFL is at midseason peak with Chiefs rookies, autographs and inserts commanding the most attention. NBA, NHL and soccer are represented, and the college section is the show's signature — Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas State material in a concentration you will not find elsewhere in the region, including team-issue sets, media guides and signed pieces. Graded slabs fill the center cases; raw vintage stars and 1970s and 1980s wax occupy the walls. Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Lorcana dealers cover the trading card game side, and a few tables bring comics, non-sport horror sets and Funko Pops that suit the date.
Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Single day only. Expect a busy morning through about one o'clock, then a steady drain through the afternoon as families head home for Halloween evening. That late-afternoon lull is the best pricing window of the day, and it is more pronounced on this date than on any other show in the series.
The operator has not published an admission rate for this date. Prior editions have run free or asked a small door fee, with accompanied children admitted at no cost. There is no advance ticketing — pay at the door if a fee applies. Confirm before travelling from Kansas City.
The Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds is on the north side of Lawrence with free parking in a large adjacent lot. The exhibition building is flat, single-level and easy to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair, and a concession window typically operates on site. Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence is roughly ten minutes away for a real meal.
This edition works well for families given the Saturday timing and Halloween atmosphere, and equally well for serious buyers who want a less crowded afternoon. Regional dealers treat it as a restocking stop. Anyone hunting Jayhawks material should make it a priority.
Tips for the day: arrive by ten if you want first look at vintage, or come after three if price is your priority. Cash in small bills, always — fairground shows are traditional that way and the discount is real. Bring a loupe for raw vintage assessment, since the building lighting is functional rather than flattering. Make one full pass writing down prices, then negotiate on the second lap, and bundle whenever possible. Ask what is still in the case; plenty of good material never reaches the tabletop.
Current listings and organizer contact details are on cardshows.io, and Kansas City and Lawrence area collector groups on Facebook post floor photos and vendor updates.
