Bowie Trade Days 2020 Shopping

Antique bottles at Bowie Trade City, 414 Pelham St, Bowie Texas; photo by Elise Anthony

BOWIE, TX — When most Texans hear “Trade Days,” they think of the well-known monthly market in Canton, where anything and everything from antiques to farm-fresh produce fill acres of lots.

Yet this picker’s paradise isn’t by any means the only one.

For more than 125 years, the small town of Bowie has held Trade Days too, in addition to communities such as Bonham, Weatherford, McKinney and others.

Rain or shine, vendors and shoppers converge the weekend before the second Monday of each Month.

There’s a city-owned site (at the rodeo arena) and there‘s a privately owned site called Trade City. Visiting both is as simple as walking across the street. Personally, I shop mostly at Trade City, 414 Pelham St., Bowie.

Turquoise Jewlery

Antique turquoise and silver cross; price available upon request from Joy.

(Full disclosure: My mom is probably reading this so I should mention that she’s a vendor at Trade City, so I am a little biased, but the vast majority of my shopping and picking is on Trade City grounds. So, ask for Joy and her authentic new and old Native American silver and turquoise jewelry at Trade City, including squash blossom necklaces, and someone will point you in the right direction.)

If you’re like me, those “Second Monday” references force me to do some calendar math, so here are the remaining 2020 market dates:*

June 6-7, 2020

July 11-12, 2020

Aug. 8-9, 2020

Sept. 12-13, 2020

Oct. 10-11, 2020

Nov. 7-8, 2020

Dec. 12-13, 2020

What I buy: Antiques, vintage Carnival glass and Depression glass dishes, old Christmas decor, furniture, handmade items, plants, quilt scraps, garden decor and gifts.

Others also buy candles, tools, knives (makes sense since a huge replica of a Bowie knife is nearby), rustic signs, toys, clothes and more.

You know your kitchen wants this industrial-size tub of shortening.

Do bring: Sunscreen, a hat and a market bag or cart, because you may have more bargains than you can carry.

I never know what I’ll find at our friend Mary’s store so I always visit twice to see what’s new — or old — and what she’s made.

Trade City Amenities: Food, clean restrooms, shaded pavilions, an ATM, and dog-friendly grounds.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays

*Know before you go:

In light of COVID-19, make sure the markets are open by checking the website and follow The Joy & Gladness on Facebook foe updates. Also, some vendors are open on Fridays too, but it may not be many, so I only included the Saturday-Sunday dates.