Flea Market

I spent my birthday weekend, this last weekend, with a friend going to the gigantic flea market in Canton, Texas. It's officially known as First Monday Trade Days, and has been since the 1850's, but most people around here just say they're going to Canton and everyone knows why! We stayed at my friend's parents' home nearby, and it was great to not have to get a hotel room.

Canton is so big, it would take 3 days of constant walking to see everything, sun-up to sun-down. Most people energy levels peter out about the same time their money does, so it's just as well. There are sellers there who are so big, they have satellite locations around the grounds, so you don't' have to go to just one area to find them. Pretty smart. I even noticed that even a lemonade stand has multiple locations. One place even had a free-standing location not on Trade Days property, but very near it. The parking lot was packed. They have great home decor items very cheap. The quality is like that of Southern Living at Home, but costs only 25% of what SLAH charges.

There are also people there whose bu sines it is to rent items to other booth owners. These entrepreneurs rent and erect portable tents, tables, chairs, run electricity, some deliver food to sellers, make 1-hour signage, print on-site business cards, and rent pallet jacks and dollies.

There are dozens of covered pavilions where vendors set up, others that set up tents of their own, some with no shade at all, and others who spread a blanket on the ground and sell whatever they think people will buy. You will also see quite a few pick-up trucks and flatbed trailers backed up into position, loaded with items for sale. Restroom facilities are fairly easy to find, and usually have an attendant to keep paper and soap stocked. But that's where the luxury stops. Most stalls are not very deep and have shower curtains for doors. You can't go to the restroom at Canton and be bashful!

Then of course, is the food. Some people choose to rent a spot in the food court, so there is a lot of choice in one area. Others use trailers like carnies at fairs and are free-standing, while others drag a BBQ pit to the edge of a tent, and just cook food to order, providing shaded seating for their customers. I noticed there was a lemonade stand that had multiple locations as well. They sell a large plastic 32 oz cup of lemonade (or limeade, or cherry lemon/limeade) for $4, but if you bring your cup back to any location, a refill is only $2. It's the kind of lemonade they make w/ fresh lemons and sugar-water, so ti's really good.

I didn't spend a whole lot of money. I got a jar of mayhaw jelly for DH, a pair of purple flip flops for DD, a pirate sword for DS, a decorative tray upon which to cluster candles, and ordered a valance that looks like red tooled leather for my Texas-decor guest bathroom. And I bought food...but I skipped the funnel cakes!

For more informatin on First Monday Trade Days, click here:
http://www.firstmondaycanton.com/index.html