Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be stressful or chaotic — but that’s usually exactly what it is when you visit a mall in December! Why put yourself through the hassle of navigating through crowds of frenzied shoppers when you can visit a local craft market or art fair instead? At handmade craft fairs, not only is the shopping experience more pleasant, you can also find one-of-a-kind, locally produced gifts for everyone on your list.
There’s no shortage of fun arts and crafts markets in Austin, especially around this time of year! Whether you’re looking for unique vintage clothing, artisanal jewelry, or Austin-themed crafts, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find whatever special gifts you’re looking for at any of these markets. Get ready to find the perfect present for your kiddos, your nanny or babysitter, your grandmother, and all your loved ones, just in time for the holiday season. These are our picks for the best holiday craft markets in the Austin area!
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
Address: 6100 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78752
Dates & Times: Open daily, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fees: Free
The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is pretty much the cream of the crop when it comes to holiday craft markets in Austin. This four-week artsy extravaganza always showcases incredible jewelry, artwork, cookware, gifts, and so much more. Every year, more than 200 local artists set up shop here to sell their wares. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Blue Genie is definitely a family-friendly affair, with its centralized checkout stations and low-key, low-stress vibes. Plus, there are plenty of refreshments and even a bar available, and parking is Free. What’s not to love?
Cherrywood Art Fair
Address: 3808 Maplewood Ave., Austin, TX 78722 (Maplewood Elementary School)
Dates & Times: Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 9 & 10, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fees: Free, but donations are always welcome!
Cherrywood Art Fair is another fixture on the festive Austin arts and crafts scene. This two-day holiday event features tons of lauded artists, children’s activities, live music, and delicious food from local food truck vendors. If you want to peruse original, awesome artistic gifts in a family-friendly atmosphere, Cherrywood is a great market to visit. Best of all, proceeds benefit the Little Artist BIG ARTIST arts mentoring program that pairs East Austin elementary school students with local professional artists.
Pro tip: We recommend checking out the schedule here before you go to see the full list of activities that include face painting, a hair-braiding station, and kids’ craft tables.
Holiday Market & Craft Sale at the YMCA
Address: 5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., Austin, TX 78723
Dates & Times: Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Fees: Free
Support local businesses and get your holiday shopping done at the same time when you attend the YMCA’s Holiday Market and Craft Fair this year. There will be 15 local vendors on hand — including Austin-based craftsmen, jewelers, a cottage, gluten-free bakery, and artists, in addition to a few hometown small businesses — and plenty of good coffee to keep you fuelled while you shop.
The YMCA’s vision for this event is to connect talented community members with each other through a marketplace that fosters relationships in business, so you can expect a friendly and community-driven shopping experience.
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Address: 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704 (Palmer Events Center)
Dates & Times: Open daily, Dec. 14 – 24, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fees: One-day passes, $8 | Purchase here
The 11-day Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a fine art, shopping, and live music destination that’s beloved by both Austinites and Texans near and far. This premier holiday market features local and national award-winning artists, a very authentically Austin music lineup, and two fully stocked bars. The atmosphere is family-friendly, cheerful, and festive. Come prepared to dance!
The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is a ticketed event. All-day passes are $8 and can be purchased at the link about or at the door.
Hutto Christmas Fair
Address: 401 W. Front St., Hutto, TX 78634 (Downtown Hutto)
Dates & Times: Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fees: The fair is free, but admission to Children’s Area is $5
The nearby town of Hutto (just 30 minutes north of Austin) hosts a lovely annual Christmas fair, where local vendors sell handmade toys, housewares, décor, jewelry, and other unique items.
Definitely bring the little ones! Every year, the YMCA has a Children’s Area that includes games, inflatables, crafts, and train rides. Admission to the Children’s Area is $5 per child and includes all activities. Come for the craft shopping, and stay for the live entertainment and yummy fair-style food!
Eastside Holiday Market
Address: 908 E. Fifth St., Austin, TX 78702 (REVELRY)
Dates & Times: Friday, Dec. 15, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fees: Free
For a fun and funky holiday market experience, stop by REVELRY — a local performance and event venue on Austin’s East Side. Dubbed the Eastside Holiday Market, you can expect to find plenty of curated arts and crafts here, in addition to a slew of Austin’s most loved local vendors.
Popular food trucks like Garbo’s Lobster Truck and Curcuma will be on hand if you need a snack after all that shopping, and don’t miss sampling some tasty flavors from Lick Honest Ice Creams. This market is one night only!
Maker’s Market, curated by Edible Austin
Address: 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704 (Trail of Lights, Zilker Park)
Dates & Times: Friday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fees: This event is part of the Trail of Lights: Night Lights Preview Party. | Tickets are $75, and can be purchased here.
Held during the Night Lights Preview Party — the night before the Trail of Lights officially opens — the Maker’s Market (hosted by Edible Austin, a community-based bimonthly foodie publication) will feature a batch of local makers and artisans selling their special artistic creations. Vendors include Sertodo Copper (handcrafted, hammered copper goods), Vinca USA (locally made jewelry), Texas Coffee Traders (artisanal coffee and coffee beans), and more. Proceeds will benefit the Trail of Lights Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to producing the widely beloved Trail of Lights celebration every year.
Winter Wonderland at the Circuit
Address: 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Austin, TX 78617 (Circuit of the Americas)
Dates & Times: Dec. 1 – 2 & 8 – 30 | Friday & Saturday, 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday – Thursday, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fees: Purchase $16 tickets online. | Kids ages 5 & under, free
This year, Austin’s own Circuit of the Americas racetrack will be transformed into a bona fide extravaganza of holiday cheer! Winter Wonderland at the Circuit promises to be a “magical world of holiday amusement” — and we couldn’t agree more, considering there will be a skating rink, a human snow globe, a petting zoo, carnival rides, and so much more. Most importantly, Winter Wonderland at the Circuit will feature a giant vendor village for all your holiday shopping needs, with local artisans of all kinds.
East Austin Handmade Arts Market
Address: 3409 E. Fifth St., Austin, TX 78702 (Cherry Cola Dog)
Dates & Times: Sunday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fees: Free
The East Austin Handmade Arts Market is a partnership between local businesses and artists to provide a communal shopping experience with holiday flair! All arts and crafts are handmade in the heart of Austin, and the event always features killer live music, awesome performance artists, and complimentary drinks. If you’re seeking a holiday market with plenty of quirky, hipster vibes to go around, the East Austin Handmade Arts Market is your best bet.
Holiday Gift Market at Pearl, San Antonio
Address: 303 Pearl Parkway, Ste. 300, San Antonio, TX 78215
Dates & Times: Every Thursday, Nov. 30 – Dec. 21, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Fees: Free
Just a little more than an hour from Austin’s city limits, San Antonio is the perfect place to shop for cute, handmade gifts — particularly if you head to the historic Pearl Brewery district for the much-loved Holiday Gift Market at Pearl! Enjoy the various pop-up tents set up along Pearl Parkway, indulge in a steaming mug of artisan hot chocolate, and support local businesses while also nabbing special gifts for your loved ones. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Did we include your favorite holiday craft market in the Austin area? Let us know in the comments below!
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