Canton, Texas Has World's Largest Outdoor Trade Days

Canton, Texas is a small town located about 1 hour East of Dallas. This small town however, has something that Dallas doesn't, 'The First Monday Trade Days'. First Monday Trade Days takes place from Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of every month and according to the people of Canton, this event is, "the largest outdoor trade days in the world." This monthly event takes place in the 100 acre park rightly named 'First Monday Park' that is just off of Hwy. I-20 and exit 526. Once you are near by, they have signs pointing you every step of the way to get you to the event.

When I moved to Forney, Tx a few years ago, one of the first places local people told me I should go check out was the giant flea market in Canton. Being as I was looking for random items to decorate my house with, I decided to spend a Friday with a visiting friend and check out the trade days event. They warned me that this was a huge place with thousands of vendors and that I should wear sunscreen and comfortable tennis shoes. They were not kidding. I have since gone back twice and always with the most comfy shoes and clothes I own!

Here is what I love about the First Monday Trade Days:

1) The event takes place monthly, same set days and times, rain or shine. On Thursday-Saturday it opens to customers at 8 a.m. and stays open until 6 p.m. Sunday it opens at 8 a.m. and closes around 4 p.m.

2) It's FREE. Though you may pay the $4 for parking, admission to the event is absolutely free.

3) There are well over a thousand vendors and so many great bargains to be found. You may find it hard to leave without your car packed full of new goodies and little treasures you discover. I always try to set a limit on how much I want to spend, so I don't go overboard! I have purchased antiques, candles, mirrors, posters, DVD's, toys for my nieces and nephews, fresh produce, hot home made salsas and jams. They have vendors who sell everything you can think of, including furniture, clothes, arts and crafts and paintings. If you name it, you can probably find it for sale and at reasonable prices. Don't be afraid to make an offer and get a better deal!

4) You want to make sure to bring cash because some vendors do not accept checks or credit cards. However, many vendors do take credit cards and also there are a handful of ATM machines located throughout the park. So paying for something you just have to have, is generally an easy task.

5) The food! My goodness they have a lot of food vendors, a food court and even a restaurant on site. This is Texas, so you will find some great bar-b-q as well as taco stands and other delicious items. My personal favorite is the "Roasted Corn", I seek it out each time I'm there.

6) If you are handicapped or you just don't want to try walking around 100 acres, the park offers scooters for rent. Believe me, after a few hours on your feet, you will be eye-balling someone else's scooter and wishing you had rented one. Again I remind you, wear comfy shoes, not flip-flops or boots or high heels or sandals. You may think those are fine, but after hours of walking around, you'll wish you heeded my advice. It's usually sunny weather, so I advise wearing a visor and sunscreen for protection.

7) If you like smaller crowds, try going on a Thursday. I have been on Thursday, Friday and Sunday and found Thursdays were far less crowded. Also, it is a dog friendly park, so if you want to bring fido with you, keep him on a leash and bring him on in to see if he can locate some of the terrific pet items they have for sale!

In each trip there I discovered another part of the area that I did not see before. It's nearly impossible to make it past every vendor in just 1 full day of shopping. If you happen to be doing some RV traveling, and you think you may need a couple days to get through all those aisles of shopping, you will find an RV park close by. You can call (903) 567-6556 for RV reservations. There are also plenty of motels and Bed and Breakfast places to stay. A good website to get that info is, http://www.discoverourtown.com/TX/Canton/Lodging-3580.html. Happy bargain hunting, shoppers!

Source: http://firstmondaycanton.com/Default.aspx