First Monday Trade Days in Weatherford can’t escape the wrath of the coronavirus

Since it started over a century and a half ago, First Monday Trade Days in Weatherford has been about as certain as the proverbial death and taxes.

However, the event is being put on hiatus during the global spread of the novel coronavirus, Weatherford Director of Parks and Recreation and Special Events Shannon Goodman said.

“We don’t have control over how many people attend, and this is a very popular event each month,” Goodman said. “We have to think of the public health.”

Like numerous other activities in the city, First Monday is being postponed through April. The event regularly draws hundreds, sometimes thousands of visitors for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday preceding the first Monday of each month. The April 3-5 dates have been canceled and the May 1-3 dates will be evaluated in April, officials said.

The event is known as one of the oldest open-aired markets in Texas. It began in the mid-1800s as local farmers, ranchers and merchants would buy, sell or trade their livestock, handmade items, produce, and other supplies to large crowds during the monthly legal trials at the courthouse. Today, First Monday offers a plethora of items, ranging from unique gifts to antiques, and even livestock sales.

Goodman said the city makes a profit of between $9,000 and $12,000 each month from First Monday, largely from vendor space rentals. He’s been with the city almost two decades and said he can only think of one other time when it was not held.

“We had an ice storm. I believe it was the same one that affected the Super Bowl when it was here,” he said.

Other events and programs that are postponed include:

▪ All Heritage Park public and private events.

▪ Spring adult softball and spring blastball programs.

▪ Rentals of pavilions and city buildings. Renters may reschedule or be refunded.

▪ Chandor Gardens daily access and rentals.

“Like so many, we’re playing it by ear,” he said. “As soon as things change and we can open up some events, we will, but until then, as public servants we have to do what is best for the public.”