Celebrate the Season at Austin’s New Holiday Pop-Up: The Merry Market

Amid a plethora of holiday bazaars, Austin’s Merry Market is setting out to create a unique, one-day-only shopping experience on December 1. Curated by Merry Market founder and event producer Courtney Bianchi, the market will offer a curated selection of local makers, interactive elements, and seasonal refreshments.

“I’ve always had a desire to do something where I could put on an elevated experience to celebrate what makes Austin special,” said Bianchi, who curated the Merry Market to highlight Austin’s creative community.

Set in designer Kim Lewis’ studio at 2301 E Cesar Chavez St., the Merry Market aims to create a cozy, boutique-style setting for holiday shopping. “The space is like a 1900s farmhouse, so there’s wood floors, white walls, and a lot of character,” Bianchi noted. “It feels warm and welcoming.” 

A curated selection of local vendors

Upon arrival, guests will check in on the porch, where the first 25 attendees will receive swag bags with local products and TRIBEZA’s November/December print issue.

Inside, shoppers will find products from 16 selected local makers. According to Bianchi, her goal was to make shopping easy and enjoyable by creating a “one-stop shop” with products that would suit a variety of tastes and budgets.

Beyond shopping, guests can enjoy complimentary drinks and bites, with Tequila 512 and Rambler Sparkling Water offering “Merry Berry” cocktails and Luna Espresso providing coffee to keep shoppers fueled. Burro Cheese Kitchen will be on-site with their popular grilled cheese sandwiches available for purchase.

Merry Market will also offer two custom-colored branded trucker hats, a signature perfume scent and matching candle, a cowboy boot matchstick holder with matches and a branded tote. Interactive elements include a custom bolo bar by Austin Bolo, a photo booth for festive snapshots and Instagrammable lounge seating provided by Moontower Rentals. For children, a “Color Corner” lounge invites young guests to create and send a holiday card to a loved one.

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Slow North’s holiday candle.

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Eliana Bernard’s ornaments.

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“Koko’s Guide to Austin” is among the gift items available at the Merry Market.

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Katie Kismet’s flower rings.

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Benjamin Soap Co.

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Courtney Ray’s Brittle

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Kimball Prints

The 2024 Merry Market selection of local vendor products, including:

• Wall art by Landry McMeans, with large pieces and prints available.
• Austin Guide by Taste of Koko.
• Major Darling’s handmade dog collars, leashes, bandanas, and fanny packs.
• Newton Supply Co.’s wax canvas, corduroy, and velvet bags, including custom wristlets.
• Austin Bolo, featuring products and a custom bolo bar.
• Katie Kismet’s colored glass statement pieces.
• Just Right Designs’ Austin-themed prints, holiday greeting cards, and sticker bundles.
• 7 AM Goods’ heat-resistant bags.
• KWOLA’s stylish dish carriers.
• Slow North’s holiday candles, soaps, and gift sets.
• Benjamin Soap Co.’s apothecary gift sets, lip balms, and custom perfumes.
• Eliana Bernard’s handmade ceramic ornaments and unique wall pieces.
• Awkward Aunties’ ceramic cactus wine stoppers, magnets, and handmade lamps.
• Abbey Dyed’s hand-dyed onesies, silk and cotton scarves, and eye pillows.
• Italic Designs’ Southwest national park prints and notecards.
• Cornucopia’s holiday-flavored popcorn bags.
• Courtney Ray’s Brittle selection of flavored brittles.
• Kimball Prints’ holiday tea towels and popular printed designs like “Alright Alright Alright.”

Creating a community-focused holiday market

“It’s not just a pop-up shop. It’s an all-day event,” Bianchi explained, describing plans for a lounge area, photo booth, and seasonal decorations. “We want customers to come and, you know, feel welcome, feel like the holidays are for everyone.”

Five dollars from each ticket sold will be donated to Rosa Rebellion, an Austin-based nonprofit focused on racial justice and social impact. Bianchi’s choice of this organization reflects her own experiences with its programs. “Through that experience, I saw how impactful their work was in my life,” she said. “I just really felt called to bring some awareness to this organization.”

In designing the Merry Market, Bianchi drew on her experiences attending local holiday bazaars, aiming to offer something more intimate. “There’s so many awesome holiday markets, but I wanted to do something a little bit different,” she said.

Merry Market simplifies holiday shopping by centralizing all sales, allowing guests to make a single transaction for purchases, and creating a streamlined, retail-style experience instead of a traditional vendor setup.

In the event of rain, the Merry Market will be rescheduled to Sunday, Dec. 8. Tickets are available online and include access to all complimentary activities, with event times from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.