Austin Creative Reuse is doubling down on its biggest fundraiser of the year, spreading its seventh annual Holiday Reuse Art Market across two weekends this fall instead of one. Shoppers can browse upcycled goods, vintage finds and original art from more than 100 local creatives each day the market is open, with the lineup refreshing between sessions so repeat visitors see new vendors each time they come back.
The market runs November 28 and 29, then returns December 5 and 6, set up in the parking lot of the nonprofit's center at 2005 Wheless Lane, according to CultureMap Austin. Admission is free, and every vendor works with materials that have been reused, thrifted or scavenged rather than bought new, according to Austin Creative Reuse. The nonprofit's event listings have given slightly different vendor-count estimates for the market — one page cites more than 40 vendors a day, while another puts the figure above 50 — but either way, the stalls will focus on reuse materials and techniques for finding fresh gifts without new production.
A First-of-Its-Kind Artist Residency Debuts
New this year is a live demonstration from Charity Ridpath, a recycled-plastic jewelry artist who holds the distinction of being Austin Creative Reuse's first reuse artist in residence. Ridpath is scheduled to demonstrate her process and sell her work on December 5 and 6, giving market guests a chance to watch pieces come together from salvaged plastic before buying one.
Jillian Srygley, the center's artist programs coordinator, framed the market as a place to find gifts nobody else will be giving this year. In comments tied to the event's press materials, Srygley described the Holiday Reuse Art Market as a source for unique Austin holiday presents and encouraged shoppers to support small businesses and local makers while they browse.
Food Trucks, Dogs and a Flight-Ticket Raffle
Beyond the vendor tables, the market leans into a full day-out atmosphere. Local food trucks will be parked on site, KOOP Radio DJs are slated to play live sessions throughout both weekends, and a raffle will offer vendor items along with Southwest Airlines tickets, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit's Materials Mobile program, which supplies creative and classroom materials to Central Texas educators.
A roster of community partners will also set up free, family-friendly activities, including the Central Texas Mycological Society, TRAPRS, the N.I.C.E. Project, Asmbly, TreeFolks, Keep Austin Beautiful and Bring Back the Weird. The Austin Animal Center will have a presence too, and market-goers could end up taking home more than a shopping bag — adoptable dogs will be on hand for anyone looking to add a new family member alongside their new holiday decor.
A Market That Keeps Growing
The event has grown steadily since its earlier years. A 2023 recap from CBS Austin described that year's fourth annual market extending into a second weekend after its initial debut, featuring handmade and vintage items alongside food trucks and kids' activities. By last December, the nonprofit's sixth annual market pulled in roughly 1,400 visitors — about 20% of them new to the organization — with 111 vendors and 12 community partners spread across two days, according to the group's own recap on its blog.
That 2025 edition also leaned on volunteer power, with 38 people donating 133 hours of work before and during the weekend, and about 250 attendees pitching in on a five-minute activity to help restock the Materials Mobile. The center itself, open year-round at 2005 Wheless Lane, stocks gently used and sometimes unopened art supplies, craft tools and home decor for the community, with the holiday market serving as its flagship showcase for that mission each winter. This year's expansion to two full weekends, supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department, suggests organizers are betting that demand for reuse-minded holiday shopping in Austin is still on the rise.
