August 2020
Canton First Monday Trade Days is definitely a unique event, but what is it exactly that makes it so special?
History
??Canton First Monday Trade Days has been happening since 1850. With 170 years of essentially continuous operation it is the longest running flea market in the United States. When you have that much experience, it can be expected that it’s something special. The Grand Bazaar in Turkey is much older, but hey, Canton wasn’t even around in the 15th century.
Size??
At over 400 acres and with literally thousands of vendors, the sheer size of First Monday Trade Days is something to behold. In fact, it's the largest flea market in the world. The event covers 4 days each month and you can expect that it would take the entire 4 days to really take in all that it has to offer. With the other venues and shops in Canton, such as Old Mill Marketplace and all the antique stores, the event can be seen to be even larger. You could easily spend several weekends and never see all there is.
Variety of Vendors and Items?
Because First Monday Trade Days is so large, the variety and style of vendors there is staggering. Though it's called a flea market, everything from weekend garage sale type vendors to businesses that have an established, full-fledged, permanent presence can be seen. And thanks to that, the sheer volume of selection of products and goods is something to see. You can find just about anything you are looking for whether it is antique, handmade, found, created, baked, thrifted and/or picked.
Adventure??
The history, size, and variety of Canton First Monday Trade Days makes the extravaganza nothing short of a true adventure in shopping. With both vendors and shoppers coming from all over the country, and sometimes the world, you never know what you’ll find or who you might run into. So, think of your whole experience as a true adventure because with so much to see it can definitely be exciting and you'll most certainly create some great memories.
People
The one thing that truly makes Canton First Monday Trade Days special is the people. Tens, and sometimes hundreds, of thousands of vendors and shoppers from all over converge on a small town in East Texas for four days each month. Everyone there is focused on one thing: shopping while having a good time. With that in common it’s very easy to come away from Canton with not only some great finds, but also some wonderful memories and maybe even some new friends. If it weren’t for the people and the sense of community, Canton First Monday Trade Days never would have lasted as long or become as large as it has.
Texas?
?Yes, that’s right, Texas makes it special, too. As the saying goes, “Texas. It’s like a whole other country." You could have an event like this somewhere else, but it just wouldn’t be or feel the same because it wouldn't be in Texas. Probably wouldn't be as big either.
There they are, several good reasons why Canton First Monday Trade Days is so special.
And remember, Canton Shopping Guide is your resource to help make your visit to Canton First Monday Trade Days that much more special.
