Have You Been to Canton Trade Days?

Hopefully, your answer to the question above is YES! Because if you haven’t been to Canton, Texas for Canton First Monday Trade Days, you are missing out! Though technically not “Dallas” fun, Canton is less than an hour away and their Trade Days are something every Dallas mom should experience. If you haven’t been, or are not an expert in all things Canton, you’ve come to the right place.

It never fails: Someone visits my house for the first time and asks where I got the ceiling tile art hanging in our living room or the sugar mold candle holder in our kitchen. My answer to most questions like that is one word: Canton. I started going to the First Monday Trade days eight years ago, and I’ve picked up some great finds along the way. While doing all that shopping, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to navigate the craziness of Canton.

Here are the main things you need to know about Canton Trade Days:

What Is It?

Canton First Monday Trade Days is a flea market where thousands of vendors set up booths. You can find anything new or old at Canton: home decor, antiques, collectibles, clothes, and SO. MUCH. MORE. It’s impossible to see everything in one day. It can be overwhelming, but once you go a few times you’ll find your favorites and learn how to navigate the crowds.

When Is It?

The First Monday Trade Days are held the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the first Monday of every month. Most booths open around 8am and close up around 5pm each day. I’m a morning person, and my advice would be to get there and be parked and ready to shop at 8am. When the weather is nice (and especially in October and November, when everyone is in Christmas shopping mode) it gets very busy by 10am. My motto is “Go early, leave early.” That way, when the crowd gets to be too much, I’ve already visited my favorite spots and can get home by the early afternoon. Also, Saturday is the busiest of all the days, so if you can go on a Friday or Sunday, you’ll be a much happier person by the time you leave.

Do I bring my kids?

My honest advice? No. I made a never-brining-my-kids-to-Canton rule before I even had kids. For me, it’s a place to get away and shop. It’s great to go with the girls, and it also makes for a fun day-date with the hubs. Canton Trade Days aren’t geared toward children. Yes, there are fair foods like corn dogs and funnel cakes, but other than that similarity, it’s very different from a fair or carnival. It’s really all about SHOPPING. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t really love taking my kids to the grocery store much less on a shopping trip that includes a two-hour round-trip drive and lots and lots of walking. Obviously, everyone is different and if you do bring your kids, good for you! I’m just not that brave.

Where do I go?

There are many different vendor areas around the town of Canton. My favorite area in Canton is at the “Original First Monday Trade Days.” For first timers, I think it’s easiest to go in the North Entrance and park as close as you can to Pavillion 4500. Parking is $5 cash, but admission to Trade Days is free. The parking area is circled on the map below in yellow. The red stars highlight my favorite areas of the park. Most Canton-goers will tell you their favorite area is known as “The Arbors,” so those pavilions should be on your must-see list.

What do I wear?

Wear comfortable shoes and layer your clothes. It may be chilly in the morning depending on what month you go, but no matter what, you’ll be sweating by lunchtime.

What do I bring?

Make sure you bring cash and your check book. Many vendors don’t take credit cards. When you get there, you’ll see lots of people pushing these little wire carts. Many vendors sell carts, so it’ll be easy to find one. It saves you from having to carry all of your purchases while you shop. If you plan on going more than once, purchasing a cart in advance or at the park will be money well spent.

If you have more questions, please leave them in the comments and I’ll be sure to reply. If you’re a Canton-goer like me, we’d love to hear your tips too.

I hope this inspires you to make your first trip to Canton if you haven’t been! It’s the perfect place to find a personalized onesie for your baby on the way, a new Christmas wreath for your front door, or a less expensive version of something that you circled in your fall Pottery Barn catalog.

And, if nothing else, it’s another excuse besides the State Fair to eat a good, greasy corn dog! Happy Canton-ing to you!