The weekend before the first Monday of every month, the small town of Canton, Texas explodes with visitors. What brings all of these people out to Canton, TX? Well, Canton Trade Days (aka the First Monday trade days in Canton, Texas) of course!
If you have never visited the Canton First Monday trade days, then you are in for a treat! This post will outline for you all of the necessary information to make your trip to the trade days in Canton, Texas a successful one.
Think of the First Monday Trade Days as a big flea market, but not your typical flea market! It is the world’s largest flea market in the United States, encompassing hundreds of acres and runs year-round, hosting over 6,000 vendors!
At this shopping venue, you can browse any and everything that you can possibly think of. I mean you could easily spend days in Canton Texas exploring this flea market.
We are talking cute boutique clothing, home decor, and rusty old bolts. No matter what you’re looking for, the Trade Days in Canton, Texas probably has it!
We love the fact that the city of Canton, TX can easily be a romatic getaway in Texas or a fun weekend with your friends. Whichever you choose, we hope you have a great time in Canton!
Canton is a great Texas road trip, so pack up your road trip essentials and head to Canton!
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Visiting the Canton First Monday Trade Days
Where is Canton, TX?
The city of Canton, TX is a small town located in northeast Texas, situated on highway I-20. Canton, TX is an easy drive from most major Texas cities, making it easy to visit the Canton Trade Day. Canton, TX is about an hour drive from Dallas, 3.5 hours from Austin and San Antonio, and 2 hours from Shreveport.
This small town in Van Zandt County boasts a population of approximately 3,500 people according to the 2010 Census. Don’t let the small population fool you, the city of Canton is great!
On the first Monday of each month, the city of Canton will see upwards of 100,000 flea market shoppers thanks to the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas! Meaning this charming town is swarmed with people for a few days each month.
What are the Canton First Monday Trade Days?
The City of Canton First Monday Trade Days is the world’s largest flea market!
You see, back in the 1850s, the circuit judge would come to the city of Canton, TX on the first Monday of each month. This drew people from all around to the city to observe the court proceedings.
Of course, smart business people took advantage of this influx of people and began selling their products during this time of the month as well.
The First Monday Trade Days have continued to grow over the years and is now a major event in Canton, Texas with over 6,000 vendors selling everything from handcrafted products to antiques.
Visitors from Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana flock to the Trade Days in Canton to see what fun items they can get their hands on. Flea market shopping at its best!
Designers love visiting Canton’s First Monday Trade Days for the unique home furnishings and antiques you can find here. Jewelry lovers will be in awe of all of the jewelry vendors available at the Trade Days in Canton.
The Canton First Monday Trade Days are held Thursday through Sunday prior to the first Monday of the month (hence the name, the First Monday Trade Days) and runs year-round!
Crowds for Trade Days in Canton are usually the lightest on Thursday and Friday, so if it is your first visit to Canton’s First Monday Trade Days, you may want to consider coming on these days.
It is important to note that there is additional shopping all around the First Monday Trade Days, some of which are air-conditioned (which is so important during the Texas summer heat). One of the air-conditioned shopping venues is the Canton Marketplace on Highway 19, not far from the First Monday Trade Days.
There is ample parking all around the trade days in Canton, but most of it is on grass, so keep that in mind. Parking for the First Monday Trade Days is generally $5 for the day and you will need cash!
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What Should I Bring?
The Canton, TX First Monday Trade Days grounds cover over 700,000 square feet, so you definitely want to bring comfortable shoes! Of course, we always recommend that you check the weather as Texas weather can often be unpredictable.
Depending on the weather, you might want to bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. You might also want to dress in layers and bring an umbrella.
In addition to dressing appropriately, you might also want to consider bringing some kind of little “cart” to haul around your purchases. You will see people with all different kinds of carts on the First Monday Trade Days grounds.
Trust us, even the smallest of bags can get cumbersome after a while as you will be doing a lot of walking when visiting the Trade Days in Canton. There is an area to rent carts if you would like to do this.
Insider Tip: Bring cash, as some of the vendors do not accept cards. Better to be safe than sorry! There are a few ATM machines on the grounds of the First Monday Trade Days if needed.
Navigating the Trade Days?
The First Monday Trade Days are huge and it is easy to be turned around or not know exactly how to navigate the hundreds of acres of flea market shopping.
First, I recommend getting a map. A map of the First Monday Trade Days will help you to not keep your bearings and therefore, not waste any valuable shopping time.
It is also important to know that the Canton, TX First Monday Trade Days grounds are separated into several areas. Take note of these areas:
- Civic Center- The Civic Center is an indoor shopping area that is climate controlled. Here you will find mostly antiques and home décor.
- Vendor Fields- The Vendor Fields are what I think of when I think of a good old country flea market. The Vendor Fields are rows and rows of any and everything you can think of from tools to clothes to yard items. This is where you can usually bargain for deals as well. Just like a typical flea market!
- Trade Centers- There are four trade centers located on the property. These are large covered areas that house clothing boutiques, home décor shops, antiques, and more. You will also find a lot of food shops in this area.
- Row 46- Row 46 contains home décor, clothing, and many other hand made items.
What Will I Find at the Trade Days?
The First Monday Trade Days has so many cool items to discover. Way more than I could ever dream of putting into this post and way more than the typical flea market.
I love checking out the boutique clothing shops. There are all sorts of styles at the trade days ranging from vintage to on-trend current styles.
The majority of the boutiques have small dressing rooms so that you can try your items on before purchasing as well.
Of course, there are antique and vintage items all over the grounds. I love seeing all of the vintage doors and doorknobs that are available for purchase. We also like browsing all of the old street signs that you find throughout the grounds.
Home décor is everywhere at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton as well. Whether you are looking for something small to put on a shelf, or a huge piece of furniture, you can find it all at the trade days.
Really, I could go on and on about all of the items found here, but you get the idea. To sum it up, you can really find anything and everything!
You will not go hungry during your visit either. There are food and drink vendors found throughout the trade days. Be sure you hit up the snow cone or homemade ice cream stands. They are delicious!
Why Is It So Popular?
There are many reasons why the trade days are so popular. I am sure one of the top ones is the fact that the trade days are a great place to spend the afternoon just walking around and browsing while soaking up some of the Texas sunshine.
The items in Canton are so unique and it is easy to find one-of-a-kind items, making Canton like a little treasure hunt. Every time you visit is different as vendors change their merchandise to match the seasons. I also love that you are supporting small, local businesses!
I am sure getting a good deal of these unique items is another draw for visitors. While there are some booths that have set prices, there are still some vendors that will negotiate with you. My motto is, “it never hurts to ask.”
The trade days also sponsor different events monthly, again making each visit a unique experience.
Places to Stay in Canton, TX
If you are planning to visit the Canton trade days, then you might as well stay in the area and make a fun weekend trip out of it.
While there are many places to stay in Canton, TX, we highly recommend the hidden gem of the city, the Silver Spur Resort. When staying at the Silver Spur Resort, you can choose to stay in a cabin, a tiny house, or take advantage of their Canton KOA status and hook up your RV. That is way better than a hotel room in Canton!
The Silver Spur is extremely clean and the staff is super friendly. They have a pool, an onsite restaurant, and brewery, and loads of activities to keep you busy. Read more about our stay in their cabins in Canton, TX.
Overall, we love Canton Trade Days. Whether you are looking for a fun trip out with the girls or a weekend away with your honey, you should really consider visiting the trade days. There truly is something for everyone here.
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About The Author
Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel. Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region. She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
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Tour Companies We Trust:
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