Collin County has had a trade day market for over l00 years. For much of that time the market was in downtown McKinney at the old jockey lot. In l966, after the city decided to build on that property, the market moved to its present location on highway 380; 2 miles west of U.S. 75. It has been at this location ever since. In a way, the move of Collin County's trade day market to its present location was "Going Home." Perched along both sides of Franklin Branch and around the old Buckner Cemetery to the site of the city of Buckner, Third Monday Trade Days rests on some of the most historic real estate in Collin County. It returned to the original county seat and the location of the first trading post in Collin County--the community of Buckner.
On trade day weekend, the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday preceding the third Monday, Old Buckner comes alive again with roughly 25,000 shoppers and vendors haggling over merchandise just like early settlers and Indians did at McGarrah's Trading Post over l50 years ago. It is a place where time stands still. Shoppers walk where Indian tepees once rested and they pick up pecans from ancient trees that date back to the l9th century. They visit the Buckner Cemetery where the early founders of Collin County are buried and read the historical markers that tell of the early life of this community. But most of all they bring the past to life by touching the items that were used to build this country-old tools, kitchen items, antique furniture-the relics of our past. To see and touch these items and so much more, all you need to do in Texas is "Go Home" to your nearest trade day market-Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney.