Mississippi Moves Travel Forward This National Travel And Tourism Week

National Travel and Tourism Week, (NTTW) the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight the essential role that travel has played throughout the recovery from the pandemic and will play in driving economic growth and innovation through the theme #TravelForward.

In Mississippi, the travel industry drives $749 million in state and local taxes, providing $678 in tax relief for every Mississippi household. In 2022, 24 million visitors spent $7.1 billion in our state. Tourism also contributed $461 million to the state’s general fund, which amounted to 6.4 percent, or $1 of every $16, in the general fund.

“As Mississippi’s fourth-largest industry, the tourism industry supports over 100,000 jobs and strengthens culture and identity to attract more visitors to our beautiful state. In addition, tourism also greatly enhances the quality of life for our residents,” said Mississippi Tourism Association Executive Director Danielle Morgan. “This National Travel and Tourism Week, we celebrate Mississippi tourism’s forward momentum thanks to strategic planning and investments by state leaders as we strive to continue to grow our economic impact for the benefit of all Mississippians.”

“The travel industry fuels every industry—our industry’s success is the nation’s success,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “This week is a prime opportunity to elevate the message that travel is essential to moving America’s economy forward.”

Established in 1983, NTTW is an annual tradition to mark the U.S. travel industry’s role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, stimulating business activities, and elevating the quality of life for everyday Americans.

Travel serves as a catalyst for a productive U.S. economy and helps power the success of other industries. The U.S. travel industry generated a $2.6 trillion economic output in 2022 and supported 15 million jobs, fueling communities, small businesses and working families across the country.

Travel spending also generated nearly $160 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022—revenue that helped fund critical public services while saving each U.S. household an average of $1,270 in taxes.

Mississippi is recognizing travel’s essential contributions with celebrations planned in communities across the state in honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, as well as a ceremonial bill signing of House Bill 419 with Governor Tate Reeves on Wednesday, May 10. HB 419 creates a new round of tourism funding for destination marketing organizations and other tourism recovery projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Please visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week.

The flea market survival guide

Seeing as our own event — the Canton Flea Market & Crafts Show 2023 — is coming up this May, we thought it would be a good idea to share our flea market survival tips. Covering everything from market etiquette to purchasing decisions, here’s how to make the most of your next trip to a flea market…

Arrive early

First thing’s first - arrive early to make the most of your day. For instance, our next market is on May 11th 2023, 8am to 5pm, so we recommend being ready to shop early. This might seem like an early start, but you’ll get to experience an hour or so of calm before the storm. Plus, you’ll have your pick of some of the best items on sale before they get snapped up.

Research directions and parking

It can be stressful finding driving directions and parking information on the morning of a flea market. Make a plan for your journey a few days before the event.

Know when to haggle

Haggling (negotiating a price with a vendor) is generally acceptable at most flea markets. So, don’t be afraid to haggle with a stall holder. They won’t be offended and it will help you get a great price. Likewise, if a vendor says the price isn’t up for negotiation (which is sometimes the case), respect that this will be for a reason. The item could be handmade, for instance (and that takes a lot of time and skill).

Bring cash

Don’t lose out on a purchase because you didn’t bring enough cash. Lots of vendors now accept card payments but it’s always good to have a backup if their card machine breaks or there is an issue with your account.

Bring a companion

Having a friend with you will make your day all the more enjoyable! You’ll be able to enjoy the experience together, chat as you shop, and take turns carrying your haul. Plus, they  can provide a second opinion on anything you feel unsure about purchasing.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes

Flea markets and craft shows involve lots of walking. Wear practical clothes and comfortable shoes that will endure hours of pacing between stalls.

Be nice to everyone

Remember to respect other market attendees and stallholders. Even if you see someone buying something you wanted or a vendor doesn’t want to reduce the price for you, it’s important to be polite.

Stay hydrated and bring snacks

Ensure you bring provisions to keep you fed and watered. You don’t want to have to worry about getting hungry or dehydrated. A water bottle and a few snacks will make all the difference.

Enjoy the day

Last but not least, have an amazing day! Embrace the unpredictable nature of flea markets and get stuck into the excitement.

Canton Flea Market 2023 dates

The bi-annual Canton Flea Market & Crafts Show is one of the South’s finest arts and crafts shows. Our spring event is May 11th 2023 (8am to 5pm), and our fall event will be on October 12th 2023 (8am to 5pm).

We’re proud that the Canton Flea Market attracts some of the best artisans across the US. Here you’ll find over 1,100 artists and a fabulous array of handmade items, including pottery, jewelry, and other unique arts and crafts. 

Find us on the grounds of the historic Madison County Courthouse and throughout the surrounding area. See you there!

Learn more about being a vendor at our next show, download our brochure, and get driving directions to the event.

What Items Sell Best At Flea Markets?

Flea markets are great places to find a variety of items, from antiques to vintage clothing. But if you're considering selling items at Canton flea market, it's important to know which products have the potential to give you the highest profits.

Antiques and vintage items

Antiques vintage pieces are popular items to sell at flea markets. They’re usually well-made and more unique than modern mass-manufactured items, making them desirable to those with an eye for the unusual. From artwork to kitchenware, stocking quirky antiques can stand out at a flea market and draw traffic to your stall. 

What’s more, antique items can also be seen as an investment as they can appreciate in value over time. 

Handmade crafts

Just like antiques, the unique nature of handmade crafts makes them fantastic items to sell at a flea market. 

Additionally, many people appreciate the personal touch and care that goes into making handmade pieces and are willing to pay more for them. Flea markets often attract people looking for something special, different and want to buy something that is not found in big stores. They also provide an opportunity for customers to interact directly with the artisans or crafters, which can add an extra layer of appreciation and connection to the purchase. 

And because crafts make popular gifts, you may find you have customers who want to stock up on multiple presents.

Items of clothing

Clothing is a big seller at flea markets, as you can often find higher quality garments for a more affordable price than on the high street. 

Discounted items of clothing are a huge magnet to potential shoppers, especially since flea markets may have unique or vintage clothing items that are not available in traditional retail stores. 

Flea markets usually have a more personal and community-based atmosphere which may make the shopping experience more enjoyable for some people.

Collectables

Flea markets are a haven for collectors, especially as you can often find rare or hard-to-find items you can’t find elsewhere — from first-edition books to music merchandise. 

Flea markets also provide an opportunity for people to browse and find unique items that they weren’t looking for in the first place! This can be a fun and rewarding experience in its own right.

Collector items also evoke nostalgia for many people as they have sentimental value due to their history and cultural importance. People tend to be drawn to collector items because they remind them of their childhood or another time period in their life. 

This nostalgic factor can help drive up the price of collector items as people are willing to pay more for something that evokes emotion within them. 

Unique furniture

Furnishing a house with brand-new furniture can be expensive — especially if you’re trying to keep up with trends and styles in interior design. 

Flea markets offer customers an alternative source of unique furniture without having to pay the full retail price. Shopping at flea markets allows you to save money while still creating a beautiful space filled with interesting pieces. 

It also allows shoppers to build their own collection over time since they can buy small items like accessories or larger pieces like sofas without breaking their budget.  

Find a gem at Canton Flea Market in 2023

Whether you’re looking for a vintage piece of clothing, a rare collectable, or some unique, yet affordable furniture, you’re sure to find something that takes your fancy at Canton Flea Market 2023. 

Our bi-annual Canton Flea Market attracts over 1,100 skilled arts and crafts vendors. If you think you wares would sell well, why not get in touch? Alternatively, if you’re a customer hoping to peruse, you can join us on May 11th and October 12th 2023. Contact us today to book a visit!

What is the largest flea market in Mississippi?

If there’s one thing that Mississippi does well, it’s flea markets, and Canton, in particular, is famous for them. But out of all of Canton’s flea markets, which one is the largest?

What is a flea market?

Usually, a flea market is a type of market where various used goods are sold at bargain prices. The term "flea market" is thought to have originated from a Parisian bazaar known as “marché aux puces”, which specialized in second-hand items.

Today, flea markets are popular all over the world, and they offer a unique shopping experience. Visitors to a flea market can find everything from unique, hand-crafted gifts to clothes, accessories, furniture and antiques. 

What makes a flea market so great?

Whether you’re looking for a thrifty bargain and some rare antiques, or you just enjoy the excitement of searching through interesting goodies, a flea market is a wonderful experience. 

There’s something special about finding a bespoke treasure handcrafted by a creative, and a flea market is a great place to showcase artisan pieces. It’s also common to bargain or haggle at flea markets, so shoppers can often get fantastic deals. 

Mississippi’s largest flea market

With a population of just over 13,000, the town of Canton, Mississippi, is relatively small. But this number significantly increases when the bi-annual Canton Market Arts and Crafts Show is in town. This fantastic event attracts over 1,100 superior artists and craftspeople to showcase their artisan creations to thousands of shoppers, making it one of the largest markets in Mississippi.

The market itself is hosted on the beautiful grounds of Madison County Courthouse and throughout the neighboring areas. The show runs for one day at a time and is held on the second Thursday of May and October.

What items feature at The Canton Flea Market?

Whilst many flea markets offer an opportunity to sell unwanted items and find vintage gems amongst another person’s forgotten treasures, the Canton Flea Market Arts and Crafts Show is a little different. Mississippi’s Canton Flea Market Arts and Crafts Show emphasizes the display of handmade, unique wares rather than second-hand items, and encourages artisanal creations such as jewelry, pottery and paintings. 

Vending is by invitation only, so if you are an artist interested in exhibiting your work, please forward application to fleamarket@cantontourism.com or you can call the Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau to request an application form. We also ask you to send some visuals of your artwork or craftsmanship. 

In order to participate, all exhibited items must be handmade, or partially handmade, in order to qualify for vending. The artisanal aspect of the flea market is what we think makes our experience so special, which is why each artist must fit this criteria. 

Canton flea market 2023 dates

Our Canton Flea Market Arts and Crafts Show fell on October 13th this year. If you missed out on the big event this time, don’t worry. You can catch our spectacular Canton Flea Market Arts and Crafts Show again on May 11th 2023 and October 12th, 2023. 

Come Back To See Us Real Soon!

We are getting our first blog post ready to publish, so make sure to come back and check out all the neat things to see and do in Canton, Mississippi!