December 2020
The Canton Civic Center is a multi-use facility that is owned and operated by the City of Canton.
It is 30,000+ air conditioned and heated square feet that is used as a convention and concert hall, banquet facility, and site for trade shows and swap meets. You can see music concerts, attend gun shows, participate in political conventions, and even watch pro wrestling events. It is surrounded by acres of RV parking so it should be no surprise that it also serves as the headquarters for RV gatherings.
Come the weekend of the first Monday of every month, however, the Canton Civic Center takes a prominent place on the main Trade Days grounds and is well known as antique central during Canton First Monday Trade Days.
According to the city website, the Canton Civic Center has 156 marked vendor booth spaces on its floor. Of course, many vendors rent multiple spaces at a time, so there are not quite that many vendors there at once, but the Center is typically full and there is plenty to see and browse through.
The reason that it is known as antique central is that the Civic Center floor space rental is reserved exclusively for the sale of antiques and collectibles. 80% of the collectibles available for sale must be considered vintage, meaning that it must a minimum of 20 years old. No reproductions, replicas, or new goods are allowed for sale and anything that can be currently purchased through wholesale or retail channels is prohibited. These rules give First Monday Trade Days visitors a good idea of what they can expect to see when they visit this venue.
If antique jewelry is something that you seek, then the Canton Civic Center is the place to shop when you visit Canton First Monday Trade Days. There are plenty of jewelry displays through which to browse. Everything from silver to gold to jewels. And tables and tables of it. With literally thousands of pieces of jewelry on display, one could spend an entire day looking through it all.
Some of the other things that can be seen for sale are: signs, comic books, vinyl records, quilts, dinnerware, glassware, cookware, knives, clocks, watches, lamps, toys, and clothes just to name a few.
There have also been vendors there that sell handmade artwork, such as sculptures and lamps, fashioned from old items like as rotary telephones or space heaters. Furniture is sometimes available, but don’t expect a large selection. Head out to antique alley, in front of the Civic Center, the Dixie Loft, or maybe the Breezeway Pavilion if it’s antique furniture you are in search of.
Canton Civic Center follows the typical hours of First Monday Trade Days. It is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Sunday it is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Civic Center also has a concession stand with seating area and restrooms available inside.
If you happen to be interested in becoming a vendor and selling some antique, vintage, or collectible goods, visit https://www.firstmondaycanton.com/civic-center for more information and to download the application.
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