A brand new event tips its hat to a San Antonio tradition from well over 100 years ago. It’s called the Mujeres Mercado, which in Spanish means women’s market, which actually makes sense, given that a women's market is what it is.
“We’re really pushing and promoting an all woman artisan market," said Main Plaza Conservancy’s Ashley Quinn, and that’s where Mujeres Mercado is happening, in Main Plaza. The actual concept is what Quinn call a "night market."
“A night market is a vibrant space filled with vendors of all different types of items. None of it is retail," she said. "All of it is 100% handmade. And on top of that, it is based on traditions that have been passed down through their generations; great grandmothers, grandmothers, moms.”
It’ll be 7-11:30 p.m. every third Saturday through December, starting this Saturday night. Of course, Saturday night on Main Plaza also features that amazing video projected onto San Fernando Cathedral.
“We’ll have a variety of different food trucks out there. We’ll have organic beer and wine. We’re really trying to create this awesome, downtown urban experience,” said Quinn.
The Mujeres Mercado pays homage to the Chili Queens merchant tradition that flourished in the Main Plaza from the 1860s though the 1930s.
“There’s also traditional healers that will be on site, and they’ll all be certified," said Quinn. “It’s giving an option to get off the River Walk, experience a new part of downtown, and experience community, experience something real.”
Though it's a Mujeres Mercado, hombres are also welcome.
"Hombres are absolutely welcome; are you kidding? We definitely support the men who support our women," Quinn said.
- For more on the Mujeres Mercado visit: www.mainplaza.org
