T-R PHOTO BY THOMAS NELSON Monica Smith, Main Street Antiques owner, is one of several hosts for this year’s second Back Roads Junk-It Trial. The trail features a variety of antique and repurposing stores in Central Iowa.

For the second time this year the Back Roads Junk-It Trail will make its way through Central Iowa.

The trail happens twice a year and brings in antique enthusiasts to Central Iowa looking for their own unique item. The Back Roads Junk-it Trail began in the fall of 2016 bringing folks in from all around Iowa.

“It’s a bunch of different businesses that are either into antiques or repurposing that have gotten together and twice a year to do a little junket trail,” said Monica Smith, Main Street Antiques owner. “People can drive around and do a little miniature roadtrip and checkout all the different shops.”

It is usually scheduled in May and October, though this year the May event was postponed to June due to the pandemic.

“It goes all over,” Smith said. “So you can go from Eldora to Traer all the way down to Newton.”

Stops in Marshalltown include Main Street Antiques, The Main Street Thrifty Buzzarr, Brit Marie’s Country Boutique, Relic Midwest and SAS & Co.

The event begins on Friday and goes into Sunday.

“Most of the businesses stay open until 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, some of them open early,” Smith said.

On Sunday most of the businesses are open from noon to 4 p.m.

“In case you have to work the weekend you can still come by and get a few things,” Smith said.

The trail does not just benefit the antique and repurposing stores, nearby restaurants and stores also get a boost from the event.

“It helps all of the businesses,” Smith said. “It gets outsiders to come in and see what the community has to offer.”

The trail gives people an excuse and reason to stop and check out smaller communities.

“It brings the people back to downtown and Central Iowa,” said Michael Awes, Iowa River Antiques owner. “I think they enjoy it because they’re getting out of the house.”

So far 158 people are interested in the event on Facebook.

“It gets people to think outside of running to Ames or running to Des Moines,” Smith said. “It’s just something fun and different. It gives people a little variety to see what’s out there and check out different communities.”

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Contact Thomas Nelson at 641-753-6611 or tnelson@timesrepublican.com