Though Canton First Monday Trade Days is billed as the largest flea market in the world, don’t think that antiques and vintage second-hand goods and the typical flea market fare are the only things you’ll find there. The fact is, First Monday Trade Days has a large number of vendors that offer individual handmade goods for sale by artists, craftspeople, and creators.
Agricultural Goods
Honey, potted plants, fruits and vegetables are also items that one can find at Canton First Monday Trade Days. Though, it’s not billed as a “farmer’s market” (Canton has one of those, too), there are still vendors that take advantage of the opportunity to offer their agricultural products to discerning consumers.
Books
Sure, there are used books for sale all over the place. But, did you know that you can also find multiple authors that sell their published books at Canton Trade Days? That’s right. And they’ll even sign the book for you. Get out and meet an author.
Fine Art
There is no shortage of artists at Canton First Monday Trade Days. Metal sculptures of dragons. Oil paintings of blue bonnet fields. Melted, fluid-like glass designs in window frames. Painted gourds. Salvador Dali lithographs. A small example of the kind of art that you will find when exploring the grounds. Kind of like a museum where you can actually afford the works.
Food
You won’t find any national fast food chains at First Monday Trade Days. But, you will find a whole host of merchants that offer their own special recipes of everything from fudge and peanut brittle to salsa and BBQ and ice cream. Pies, cakes, and breads are not to be left out. There are opportunities to purchase BBQ sauces from family recipes as well as dry spice blends for rubs and dips. You can even find a wine maker and a craft beer brewer. One thing is for sure, there are plenty of opportunities for great tasting fare while walking the grounds.
Furniture
Flat-pack mass-produced furniture is not what we’re talking about. What you’ll find here is furniture hand crafted by artisans who actually love what they do. From solid wood to metal you can be sure that what you are buying is original. Couches, beds, chairs, and hutches are just some of the things you’ll find. Most of it is going to have a rustic or Southwest feel, but you can also find some with a modern and contemporary vibe.
Leather Products
If a custom leather purse, bag, wallet, belt, or even shoes gets you excited, then Canton First Monday has what you are looking for. A variety of leathersmiths offer their goods and services. Most take custom orders so you can work with them to create exactly the shoulder bag that you had in mind. And the best thing is no one else will have one like it.
Personal Care and Beauty
Natural personal care and beauty products are becoming extremely popular as more people become health conscious and are trying to reduce the impact of harmful chemicals on their wellbeing. Goats milk soap. Beeswax lotion. Lavender bath salts. Aromatherapy oils. Shampoo. Pink blush. All natural and all can be found at First Monday Trade Days.
Photography
Canton First Monday Trade Days has numerous photographers that offer prints, both framed and unframed, of amazing images of the world around us. Instead of buying one of those mass-produced pieces from the local big box store to decorate the wall in your living room, visit one of the photographers at Canton Trade Days and select a work that will be unique and a conversation starter in your home.
Wooden Items
Who doesn’t appreciate a fine piece of woodwork? The feel. The warmth. The glow. Natural wood just has a certain appeal that speaks to most of us. At Canton First Mondays there are vendors that offer handmade wood chess sets, doll houses, unique cutting boards, salad bowls, custom carved wood pens, wood sculptures, and pictures made from layers of wood. You can even find raw lumber if you are inclined to create your own work from wood.
Canton Shopping Guide is the shopper’s resource to find those vendors offering unique handmade goods and the vendor’s solution to connect with them.
