You Could Easily Spend All Weekend At This Enormous Dallas – Fort Worth Area Flea Market

Looking for the ultimate outdoor flea market around Dallas - Fort Worth? First Monday Trade Days and Flea Market is the oldest continually operating outdoor flea market in the United States! Canton, usually a small town 60 miles east of Dallas on Interstate 20, supports a population boom of 250,000 visitors each month. It swells to become the seventh largest city in Texas when Trade Days are happening. Here's why you could easily spend all week in this enormously popular market and one of the best flea markets in Dallas.

More than 7,000 vendor spaces are set up in the 450-acre First Monday Park each month.

Canton trade days are held Thursday through Sunday prior to the first Monday of the month, year round.

Bring your own cart because you'll most certainly be hauling away some new finds here.

You never know what you will see here.

While some vendors are faithfully there each month, many just come and go as they have wares to sell.

Feel free to haggle here. There's always a deal to be had.

In addition to the outdoor areas, there are pavilions and indoor areas to shop as well.

The flea market also has several vendors sporting colorful goods from Mexico.

Canton plays host to numerous antique stores as well as furniture shops.

Newcomers should note these venues when planning their shopping trip: Original First Monday Park, Original Pavilions and Arbors, The Village, Old Mill Marketplace, The Mountain, Canton Marketplace, and Canton Trade Center Pavilion. This list is not exhaustive but covers the major areas.

There are numerous food trucks and eateries throughout Canton.

Inexpensive lodging is available here as well, although you might want to book ahead, as rooms do fill up on First Monday events.

The East Gate Entrance is located at 361 S. Trade Days Blvd., Canton, 75103. Free parking is plentiful, and scooter rentals are also available. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes!

If you have been to the First Monday Trade Days and Flea Market, what was your best purchase? Any favorite stores or sections you'd recommend to others? We'd love to hear about any shopping advice or strategy to get it covered in a weekend!