The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Austin's cherished holiday tradition for nearly five decades, announces the dates for this year's festivities taking place Friday, December 15 - Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. daily at the Palmer Events Center (900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78704). This vibrant and immersive fine art and music festival showcases a diverse array of talented artists and musicians from across Texas and beyond. This year, the event will run for two additional days with two weekends instead of one, giving attendees even more time to shop their amazing selection of art and catch live music. Visitors can browse and purchase original artworks and other artisanal delights from over 200 artists specializing in creating one-of-a-kind pieces that are not found anywhere else. The Armadillo is widely regarded as a must-visit event for anyone interested in fine art and high-quality handmade gifts. More information about the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar can be found at ArmadilloBazaar.com.
This year's featured artwork is by the renowned artist Dan Grissom, whose thoughtfully curated piece pays homage to the rich Armadillo history with a with a wreath inspired by a vintage poster from the 1980s, the enigmatic and elusive cult number, 709; the Armadillo Bazaar's signature plant, a poinsettia; and of course the nine-banded Armadillo. You will also find an array of artwork from Armadillo artists carefully arranged within the image such as Dan Grissom himself, Rita Marie Ross, Alan Potter, Michael Mitchell, Steve Meadows, Betsy and Caya Crum, Lisa Morales and Chris Smith. Each piece reflects the exceptional art and Austin culture you can find at the Armadillo. To learn more about the piece and its significance, visit armadillobazaar.com/featured-art. The full 2023 artist list will be released in mid-September.
The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is not just an art fair but also a music festival, with a reputation for showcasing a variety of talented local musicians as well as established national acts on an intimate stage. This year, Armadillo will boast more live music from their phenomenal lineup of locally, regionally and nationally acclaimed musicians. The music lineup will be released in late October along with advance tickets. A gallery of previous Armadillo Christmas Bazaar performers can be found here. To be the first to get Armadillo news, sign up for their newsletter on their website.
In addition to the bustling shopping and music scene, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar offers a lively and festive atmosphere, complete with food and several bars. This year's food offerings will be moved to the beautiful, outdoor canopy overlooking the park at the Palmer Events Center to allow for food trucks with more culinary choices and lots of seating. Whether you're a seasoned collector, a casual holiday shopper, a music fan, or simply looking to get into the holiday spirit, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is an unforgettable experience that celebrates the culture and creativity of Austin and beyond.
Being back last year with our updated festival layout felt amazing,
said Anne Johnson, Producer and General Manager. This year, we're gearing up to make it even more festive and fun. I'm excited for our shoppers and live music fans to see what we are planning. Get ready for another incredible experience!
About the Team Behind Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Bruce Willenzik first came to Austin in May of 1972 to visit his brother, by October, he was in the music business working with the great Brazos River Valley Saturday Night Songster, Mance Lipscomb. In May 1974, he started a seven-year stint working at the Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) where a chance meeting, (and eventually a long-lasting friendship), with Lucinda Williams resulted in AWHQ bringing artists from the artist market on the Drag inside for Christmas. Thus, under Armadillo Productions, Inc., the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar was born in 1976. Bruce took over the show in 1981 after the AWHQ had closed and has been Executive Producer ever since. Bruce retired from community service in 2017 after serving on the Austin Arts Commission since 1989 and the Austin Downtown Commission since 2000. He was Chair of the New Airport Terminal Task Force to develop the local identity theme at Bergstrom International Airport. In 1993, he was the recipient of the first Peacemaker of Austin Award for helping to end the arts wars and recruiting members for the board of the Austin Museum of Art.
Anne Johnson works full time as Producer & General Manager of the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. She considers herself an Armadillo baby
along with many other children that grew up at Armadillo due to their parents' role in the '80s and '90s. Anne's first Armadillo job was as a five year old, delivering show flyers to local Austin businesses in her radio flyer wagon with her mom. Until the pandemic, up to four generations of her family celebrated each Christmas Eve at the Armadillo. Anne has been working production for the event since 2010, learning the ropes to one day inherit the show. She is honored to be a part of an iconic Austin tradition and dedicated to its success in the future. She can think of no better job than producing events and working in the world of art. She loves visiting local, regional and national art shows. Anne served on the board for Art Alliance Austin helping plan Art City Austin and other art events in Austin. As a new mom in 2020, she can't wait to pass along the culture and tradition of the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar to her son.
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Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
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