One of the big draws for Canton is the First Monday Trade Days flea market that takes place on the weekend preceding the first Monday of every month. People come from far and wide to look at (and purchase) oozits and whatzits galore. While Canton is a mere 60 miles from Dallas and many people from DFW day-trip it for the Trade Days event, coming to Trade Days is a great excuse to get away for a night and stay in our quaint Texas town at one of our cozy upscale Texas cottages.
Today, First Monday Trade Days is one of the oldest and largest flea markets in the country, but its roots lay in the mid 1850’s when the circuit judge would come to Canton to hold court (as this was Canton’s designated day). People naturally gathered at this time to watch the court and conduct business, and thus “First Monday” was born.
Today, “First Monday” takes place on the four days preceding the first Monday of every month (no doubt to better accommodate our busy weekday schedules and to help with crowds). It occupies about 450 acres and consists of over 7,000 vendors, so saying this once little flea market has grown is a bit of an understatement. The vendors prices and products can variety from low end to high and so can the prices. Some are stingy with the bartering, but haggling is still always welcome and it doesn’t hurt to give it ago. The event’s Wikipedia page also offers some great tips to first-timers, like coming on a Thursday or Friday for a better selection and to avoid crowds.
Seeing most of the booths and vendors can take more than a few days (especially if you count on getting a little lost if you are not familiar with the market and pavilions). After a long day of window shopping, haggling and buying, the last thing you want to do is drive over an hour back home. Luckily, our resort and cozy Texas cottages are a mere quarter of a mile from the Canton Marketplace (the northernmost building in the Trade Days complex). Not only is this convenient, it also means you don’t have to deal with parking (and, of course, don’t have to pay for parking). You can come and go from the market as you wish, or power through the whole thing and come back to the resort for some rest and relaxation.OUr cottages have a fully furnished kitchen and several cottages have grills on the back patios for grilling. Why fight the crowds at the restaurants, grill a steak and drink you favorite beverage, all at the comfort of your very own cottage. We suggest the hot tub to soothe tired legs! So, come out and stay in our beautiful Texas cottages and enjoy a great First Monday weekend.
Texas Cottages
Mill Creek Ranch Resort
1880 N Trade Days Blvd
Canton, Texas 75103
(877) 927-3439
