The Original, The Only - Since 1976

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar began as a special event at Austin’s famous Armadillo World Headquarters. Our new home is the Austin Convention Center in downtown Austin. The Armadillo World Headquarters was the inspiration or origin of many local cultural icons including Austin City Limits, Threadgills, and the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture, along with the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, first held in the Armadillo World Headquarters, was scheduled to last for 2 days, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17-18, 1976. It went so well it was extended to Dec. 21, 22 and 23. It was started as a means to expand AWHQ’s cultural outreach, to ensure December cash flow. It gave local artists a warm, dry space and alternative selling experience. Lucinda Williams suggested the market in Nov. 1974 as a way to get the artists out of the bad weather on the Drag during the Christmas season.

From 1977-79, the Bazaar adopted the theme of the "Twelve Days of Armadillo Christmas" and was held from Dec. 13-24. A waiting list of artists wanting to get into the show became established by Jan. 1979. The Bazaar experienced 50% growth in attendance each year, from 8,000 in 1977 to 12,000 in 1978 to 18,000 in 1979. In 1980, the attendance grew to 27,000 and the AWHQ held its "Last Dance" concert on New Year’s Eve, 1980. The beloved old hall was demolished in early 1981. One Texas Center now stands on the site, just south of Threadgills World Headquarters.

After the loss of its original home, Bruce Willenzik bought the rights to the show in 1981 and began his odyssey as producer of the show, a task which he still performs 25 years later. Bruce took the Bazaar to an unused Rylander’s grocery store in Cherry Creek Plaza at Stassney and Manchaca in South Austin from 1981-83. In 1984, the show moved to the small ballroom of the Austin Opera House. The name of the hall was changed to the Terrace in 1991 and the Bazaar moved into its large ballroom in 1992. In 1995, the Bazaar took up its home of 12 years in the Austin Music Hall. Due to rain and construction delays in remodeling the Austin Music Hall, the Bazaar had to move its 2007 operation to the Austin Convention Center. The length of run of the show varied with the calendar each year, from 12 to 16 days, but the hours of operation stabilized at 11 AM to 11PM.

Today, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is one of Austin’s most revered holiday traditions. It’s a major retail attraction drawing about 40,000 shoppers to downtown Austin. It provides a level of prosperity for local Austin artists and musicians. The Bazaar now has a long waiting list of artists who wish to be given the opportunity to show their work in this premier holiday arts and music festival.

Armadillo World Headquarters 1970-1980

The Armadillo World Headquarters opened August 7, 1970 in a building that was previously a National Guard armory and later a roller rink. The name was inspired by Austin’s growing affection for and identification with the nine-banded armadillo, the seemingly whimsical, armored beast who makes his home in the Hill Country, a creature who had become popular as a recurring symbol in local artist Jim Franklin’s works. The official AWHQ website keeps the memories alive.

Founded by Eddie Wilson, then manager of Shiva’s Head Band, Mike Tolleson, an entertainment attorney, Bobby Hederman – previously associated with the Vulcan Gas Company (an earlier Austin rock emporium), and Franklin - the 'Dillo’s resident artist, the hall was initially financed through meager contributions from Spencer Perskin of Shiva's Head Band and Mad Dog, Inc., a playful bunch of Austin’s "literati".