Shoppers looking for an alternative to crowded malls and shopping centers will find a unique selection of gifts at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s 28th International Peace Market or Mercado de Paz, held annually during Thanksgiving weekend.
This year, the market opens on Friday, November 24 and continues through Sunday, November 26.
For the past 28 years, visitors and local patrons have gathered for the yearly sale, filling the Esperanza’s two story building, the back patio and spilling out into the adjacent street with vendor tents.
Shoppers at last year’s Mercado de Paz.
Over 100 international and local artisans will offer shoppers a variety of handmade items including rugs, pottery and textiles, clothing, paintings and sculptures.
In a press release, the mercado’s organizers say, “Peace Market provides a family-friendly safe environment that honors the importance of moments and spaces where people gather outdoors and indoors together as community. As one of the oldest annual open-air international markets, it offers a community-centered alternative shopping destination during the busiest corporate shopping days of the year.”
While shopping is the main activity at the market, both days will feature performances by local groups representing all genres of music as well as spoken word presentations. (See performance lineup below.)
There will also be plenty of food and refreshments for sale.
“Locally, our own artisans reflect the rich cultural heritage of our city with jewelry, folk art, fabric arts incorporating Chicano and Aztec iconography and symbols as well as San Antonio sites and cultural practices. Hidden treasurers and contemporary art forms abound and an entire day can be well spent at the Mercado amongst friends, good food and performances,” Graciela Sanchez, Esperanza’s director, said in a press announcement.
The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro, presents the Peace Market (Mercado de Paz) on Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday, November 26 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call 210-228-0201.
Santiago Jimenez Jr. is one of the many musical acts slated to perform at the Mercado de Paz.
Mercado de Paz Performance Lineup
Friday, November 24, 2017
10AM – Opening Blessing by Kalpulli Ameyaltonal
10:10AM – DJ De La O
11:10AM – Bexar Bones
12PM – Laura “Yohualtlahuiz” Rios (poetry)
12:10PM – Las Tesoros de San Antonio and Mariachi de Henry Gomez
1:00PM – Rachel Jennings (poetry)
1:30PM – Polly Anna (music)
2:10PM – Alyson Alonzo
3:00PM – Polly Anna (poetry)
3:10PM – Lloronas
4:10PM – Panfilo’s Guera (music)
5:00PM – Open Mic
5:10pm – Eddie “Lalo” Torres y Su Conjunto
Saturday, November 25, 2017
10:10AM – Chulita Vinyl Club
12:10PM – Las Tesoros de San Antonio and Mariachi de Henry Gomez
2:10PM – Calmeca Skwad
2:30PM – Son Queers (Son jarocho group)
3:00PM – Natasha I. Hernandez (poetry)
3:10PM – Mari Barrera (excerpt of Ruby Reds)
3:20PM – Los MENtirosos
4:00PM – San Juana Guillermo
4:10PM – Arturo “Sauce” Gonzalez and the Westside Horns
5:00PM – Open mic
5:10pm – Flavio Longoria and the Conjunto Kingz
Sunday, November 26, 2017
11:10AM – Conjunto Heritage Taller
12:10PM – Las Tesoros de San Antonio and Mariachi Gomez
1:10PM – Los Inocentes
3:10PM – Mari Barrera (excerpt of Burras)
3:20PM – Zombie Bazaar Panza Fusion
4:10PM – Rocky Hernandez and the OBG Band
5:00 PM – Open mic
5:10pm – Santiago Jimenez Jr y Su Conjunto
