If you and your family love to search for a bargain, First Monday Canton, held in Canton, Texas, is the place. Every month, this tiny East Texas community swells with over 150,000 shoppers and 5,000 dealers in an atmosphere that’s part carnival, part flea market, and all fun.
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When is First Monday Canton?
First Monday Canton is held–as you might guess–on the four days preceding the first Monday of the month.
How did First Monday Canton Start?
Originally known as First Monday Trade Days, this event dates back to 1873 when court was held on the first Monday of the month.
To pass the time while waiting for the judge, the townspeople began to do some trading, swapping a goat for a quilt or a pair of wagon wheels for a load of hay.
After a while, trade days became a regular event on the courthouse square.
For nearly a century, the practice continued and grew. Finally in 1965, the City of Canton decided to relocate the monthly swap meet to grounds two blocks north of the courthouse. With more room as well as promotion and organization by the city, the popularity of the trade days soared.
Today both buyers and sellers come from all over the country to attend the monthly market. The sale takes place over the four days preceding the first Monday of each month.
Visiting First Monday Canton
At first glance, the Trade Days grounds looks like a huge RV park — and a very busy one at that. Most vendors arrive in Canton by RV, bringing in their merchandise from around the country and staying in the vehicle at night. And what an assortment of merchandise it is.
“If we don’t have it in Canton, you don’t need it or it’s not made,” explained Joe Collins, executive director of the Canton Chamber of Commerce. The city has been long been reaping the benefits of this Texas-sized flea market, spilling millions of dollars annually into the city coffers.
The atmosphere at First Monday Canton is part garage sale, part flea market, part carnival and all fun. Merchandise varies form antique marbles to leather gloves to restored furniture, and shoppers spend the day scanning table after table searching for a bargain or a hard-to-find item.
Many dealers return month after month, so some shoppers quickly head to a favorite vendor’s tables. The atmosphere among the dealers is like a family gathering. “They’re just like kinfolks,” explained Collins. “For a lot of them, it’s like a reunion to come back to Canton. They do a lot of trading and swapping among themselves.”
That family spirit carries over in the dealer’s interaction with shoppers. Talk is free-flowing, with advice on collectibles given out gladly. Dealers and shoppers swap stories and enjoy good-natured bartering, an accepted practice among most of the vendors.
Wear good walking shoes at the Trade Days, because of the uneven paths and the magnitude of the grounds. And don’t plan to see everything, even if you stay for the weekend. Booths sprawl endlessly across the East Texas landscape, so save some areas for your next visit.
Besides the open air market, Canton now has covered pavilions, areas set up with crafts and furniture-filled booths. Look here for refinished ice boxes, sideboards, bureaus, and more. A civic center also provides enclosed vendor space. If you purchase large items anywhere on the grounds, the dealer can provide you with a special driving permit to allow you to bring your car around and load up.
Food concessions are sprinkled throughout the market, filling the air with the scent of sugar-coated funnel cakes, spicy Navajo tacos, or smoky Texas barbecue.
No matter what your collecting interest, you’ll probably find it here at Canton — somewhere. And, as every collector knows, the search is half the fun, especially when it’s conducted among thousands of dealers in this East Texas hamlet.
More Canton, Texas Attractions
Blackwell House Museum. This restored Victorian cottage houses exhibits on local history. 314 First Monday Lane (Hwy 859).
Canton Plaza Museum. Canton’s Plaza Theater now is the site of this unique museum which features several interesting exhibits including a large collection of bells and an extensive collection of Native American artifacts. 119 North Buffalo St.
Splash Kingdom. Both kids and adults can cool off here from Memorial Day through Labor Day with lots of fun rides and water-based attractions. I-20 at FM 859 (exit 526).
YesterLand Farm. This family-friendly farm hosts special events throughout the year including auto shows, wild west reenactments, harvest festivals and Christmas festivities. One mile East of Canton at 15410 I-20.
Best Festivals in Canton, Texas
FEBRUARY:
Western Swing Valentine Party. This annual ode to western swing brings in a host of musical acts to Canton. Canton Civic Center, 800 Flea Market Rd.
MARCH:
Free State Bluegrass Festival. This three-day musical celebration is held in Canton’s Civic Center and attracts professional and amateur bluegrass artists and plenty of toe-tapping fans.
OCTOBER:
Autumn Stroll Festival. Sponsored by the Canton Main Street Project, this annual downtown event features an arts and crafts fair, live entertainment, a car show and health show and lots of fun and games for the kids.