Canton’s First Monday Trade Days, a monthly event billed as the world’s largest outdoor flea market, is canceling its upcoming April event for the first time in 170 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The market regularly draws thousands of merchants and shoppers to a 100-acre site about an hour east of Dallas. This month’s event was scheduled for April 2-5.

“Closing First Monday due to COVID-19 was a hard decision because it supports more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and local merchants who rely on this market for their livelihood,” said a statement posted to the market’s web site.

“We feel closing ... is in the best interest of our local community and the thousands of folks who come from all over the country to sell and shop at First Monday," the statement said. "We want to help fight the spread of this virus and hope you join us in our efforts.”​

First Monday Trade Days said it has held the event every month for 170 years, “no matter the weather or conditions.” Even tornadoes in 2017 and 2019 failed to halt the event.

“After we are cleared to re-open, we want to encourage anyone and everyone to come back out to First Monday to support the artisans and vendors that provide the unique products [that] have been First Monday’s specialty since the 1850s,” according to the statement.