Things to Do in Canton, Texas

Canton's headline attraction is First Monday Trade Days, billed as the largest and oldest continually operated flea market in the United States. Held Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of each month, it sprawls across hundreds of acres of vendor lots and pavilions and can draw up to 100,000 shoppers on a single weekend.

You'll find virtually everything — antiques, collectibles, furniture, crafts, clothing, tools, food, and the famous Dog Alley for animal lovers. It's a treasure-hunting marathon that has made Canton a monthly pilgrimage for shoppers from across Texas and beyond. If you go, wear comfortable shoes and plan to spend the day.

Even when the market isn't running, downtown Canton is a shopper's delight. The historic square is lined with shops offering antiques, boutique clothing, jewelry, collectibles, gifts, and home decor, along with cafes and seasonal festivals.

It's a pleasant, walkable destination for an afternoon of browsing and a meal — the everyday complement to the monthly mega-market just up the road.

Canton has grown a tourism scene to match its market. Mill Creek Ranch Resort spreads across 200 acres of Texas woodlands with cottages, RV sites, and amenities, plus live music on Friday nights at The Creek in its Grand Lodge — a relaxing base whether or not you're shopping. Families love YesterLand Farm, a nostalgic farm attraction with old-fashioned fun, fall festivities, and a holiday Christmas wonderland.

And because Canton sits right on Interstate 20 between Dallas and Tyler, about 60 miles from Dallas and 40 from Tyler, it makes an easy day trip or weekend from the metroplex — and a convenient base for exploring the lakes and attractions of the surrounding region, including big-cat refuge Tiger Creek over toward Tyler.