We stumbled onto Trade Days five years ago. Traveling through Texas, we heard about a flea market held the four days before the first Monday of each month and showed up Thursday totally clueless. Mouths agape, we stood on the edge of a vast labyrinth of trails with what seemed like unlimited opportunities to buy. We planned to stay for two hours—the time it takes to see a regular flea market; we didn’t realize we had found the largest and oldest flea market in America.

First Monday Trade Days actually started as First Monday Trades Day. Each first Monday the circuit judge would arrive in Canton to preside over court. One of the issues dealt with was the selling of wild horses. Farmers were instructed to bring the horses to Canton on the first Monday and along with court, a horse auction was held. It quickly developed into an auction for surplus crops and other animals and became known as the Trades Day. That was 150 years ago! It has seen much evolution over the years as it grew to the point where Canton struggled to keep up with the monthly torrent of people and their stuff. Land was continually purchased (now over 100 acres) rest rooms and convention centers built, parking lots and RV parks and motel rooms constructed.

Canton, Texas is just a little blip on the map. The population is 3,665. However, when we arrive for November First Monday Trade Days, there will be nearly 10,000 vendors and a half million people along with us! I have dreamed of going back since our first visit. I have regretted all of the wonderful pieces of jewelry I saw and left behind, regretted that we only shopped about one tenth of the market, regretted that I couldn’t stay longer, regretted a lot of things about that first visit.

Finally, this year, we are making the trek back. This time I will be ready! We chose November because it is one of the biggest markets of the year and the weather is usually comfortable. We reserved an RV spot right at the grounds for the entire four days so we can visit several times each day and haul our treasures back to the RV. I rented a scooter so that we can shop the maximum amount of booths—I could never walk the miles and miles and miles of pathways. We set aside lots of cash and lots of small bills. We made space in the RV for the inventory we hope to find. Our strategy will be to shop early in the day before the crowds. We will start with the outlying “junk” vendors and hit the high-end antique dealers inside the air conditioned halls in the heat of the day. With our preparations, co-operative weather, and a little divine guidance we hope to have a wonderful and prosperous time!

Texas is a long way from California and there is so much to see on the way! So this Saturday we pack up our home and head out to Death Valley, Hoover Dam, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, the Colorado Rockies, the Great Plains, and finally little ole’ Canton. See Ya’ll there!

Cindy Brown
Cinsababe's & Cinsababe's Too
on Ruby Lane
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/cinsababe