Picker's Outlet will hold its annual 'Junkfest Car Show & Craft Fair' this weekend; Owners Murry and Shirley Berger will also raise funds for Heaven's Kitchen Marion at the event
WILLIAMSON COUNTY - For the past decade, Murry Berger and his wife, Shirley, have been enjoying the reality of their dream as the owners of Picker's Outlet Mall.
"My dad had his own shop," said Murry. "I kind of grew up around it. I guess you could said it was a lifetime dream."
Picker's isn't just another antique store, though.
"We wanted to be a little different from the typical antique mall," said Murry. "When you go to antique stores you see the same things over and over. We have a variety of things to choose from ... something for everybody."
That will certainly hold true this weekend as Picker's will be home to the "Fall 2020 Junkfest Car Show & Craft Fair."
The event was originally scheduled to take place in May, but COVID-19 forced its cancellation.
Not only will there be the usual treasures, many created through the imagination and creative skills of Shirley, waiting to be found at Picker's, but there will also be a variety of vendors and food trucks.
There's also something more, as Murry said he likes to give back to the local community at these events.
This year he has chosen Heaven's Kitchen Marion as the community focus.
Heaven's Kitchen Marion serves a free meal to all those in need once a week, supplementing other community programs.
"I am humbled," said Jeff Diederich, whose Diederich Foundation has partnered with Dale Fowler and the Fowler Bonan Foundation to operate the weekly meal service in Marion, patterned after the successful Harrisburg program. "That is just amazing that he wants to do this for us."
Heaven's Kitchen will be on site, manned by some of its volunteers with information about the program. They will also be holding a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Picker's Outlet.
Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group/Marion Republican is a proud media partner for Heaven's Kitchen Marion.
The Junkfest will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The car show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
More information is available on the Facebook page or by calling (618) 983-5151.
Picker's Outlet Mall is located at 9764 Herrin Road between Johnston City and Herrin.