myfullerjoy: Where did you get that cute....? In Canton

I grew up in Canton, MS which is a small town (about 11,000 people) in Central Mississippi. When I was growing up Canton was struggling to find its identity. Our claim to fame was the Canton Flea Market and Arts and Crafts Festival. We have this twice a year on the second Thursday in May and October. It is actually a huge arts and crafts festival that shuts down the town and people come from all over the South to shop. This year the Flea Market attracted 50,000 people. In the mid 80’s a group of visioning Cantonians formed a long range plan to turn Canton into a tourist attraction with speciality shopping. Our friend, JoAnn Gordon, had an idea in the late 1980’s to turn Canton into a movie site. We have a gorgeous traditional square that is very open that is ideal for filming, and also many beautiful old homes.
Over the next ten years several movies were filmed in my hometown: A Time to Kill, My Dog Skip, O Brother Where Art Thou, Ponder Heart, Benji Returns, and a small part in Mississippi Burning. When Time to Kill came to town the whole town worked to make it happen. Everyone who worked on the movie has invited to the premier which was held in Canton, The utility workers to the actors all rubbed elbows. My dad, Bob Montgomery, worked with Matthew McConaughey to help him learn to be a small town attorney. He was an unknown then and I loved getting to meet him. My sisters and husbands were on BET dancing. . Samuel L Jackson was the first black member of our Country Club.

Also during this time Canton became the City of Lights. It is gorgeous during the Christmas season, Christmas music is always playing on the speakers around town and each store is lighted as well as the center square. Animated villages were created too. The tourism office worked on collecting retired figures who collecting dust in an attics of a department stores. They are amazing. There are 3 villages total with multiple scenes in each one. There are tons of stuffed animals and antiques. One goes through the decades and tracks the progression of the cost of living and family life. There are a few kids from Small World and I think I saw Snap, Crackle and Pop in there. They are magical. They don’t allow pictures in there so I can’t show you, but imagine every nook and cranny filled to the brim with animated animals, people, toys and creative stories to go with each scene. There is a horse drawn carriage, a train, carousel, mini cars and hot chocolate.

I always love shopping in Canton, MS. I find such unique things at such good prices. The people are very friendly and it is so nice to walk all around the square. I thought I would share some of my favorite shops.

Noble Watts Jewelry
157 North Union Street
Canton, MS 39046-3740
(601) 859-3553