If you've never been to Boerne Market Days, put it on your calendar now. It happens the second weekend of every month, February through December, rain or shine, right in the heart of downtown Boerne's Main Plaza — and it's become one of our favorite places to spend a Saturday and Sunday. Long before we ever set up a tent here ourselves, we came out as guests plenty of times — so this market has been part of our story for a lot longer than we've been vendors.
What to Expect
Boerne Market Days fills the whole plaza between W. San Antonio Ave and W. Blanco Rd, with The Kendall Hotel and Dienger Trading Company sitting just across the street. The plaza is shaded by big, beautiful pecan trees — and we count ourselves lucky that our own spot lands right under one, since that shade makes all the difference on a hot day. Well over a hundred vendors set up across two full days — everything from handmade jewelry and woodworking to boutique clothing, baked goods, and yes, us. There's always live music playing somewhere on the plaza, which makes the whole thing feel more like a community gathering than a shopping event.
But honestly, what makes this market special isn't just the vendors or the setting — it's the people. The locals here are some of the friendliest, most welcoming folks we've met doing this. And the other vendors have been just as generous. We get to the plaza early most mornings before the crowds arrive, and that quiet hour before opening has turned into real friendships — swapping notes on which markets run slow, which ones are worth the drive, what's selling and what isn't. After a handful of months doing this, we don't feel like outsiders setting up a tent anymore. We feel like part of the regulars.
Some of the friends we've made along the way: Cindy and Peggy of Purple Peppermint Ceramics, whose handmade pottery pieces are as sweet as they are, and Heather of Paint & Create, whose custom painted pieces always catch the eye of everyone walking by. If you're at the market, go say hello to them too — that's part of what makes this whole thing special.
A Little Booth Makeover
This month we gave our booth a refresh, and it made a real difference. We swapped our old white tablecloths for a soft sage green with an oatmeal table runner featuring our logo, hung a matching sage curtain as a backdrop for our sign, and added new light wood displays and hanging rods so our bags sit right at eye level instead of piled on a table. It's a small thing, but it made the whole booth feel more like a little boutique than a folding table — and it made loading in and out so much easier too, since everything actually collapses now. (We split the gear between two vehicles — nothing complicated, just tents, tables, displays, and of course our beautiful bags, all packing up the way they're supposed to.)
What Catches People's Eye
Every market teaches us something new about what people are drawn to. This time, our toddler bags were up front, and it seemed like almost everyone who walked in touched and looked them over. Our custom fabric alphabet letters are a constant draw — people always stop to check those out, no matter the month (want one of your own? custom orders are always open). Our patchwork holiday bows hanging up high got a lot of looks too. And this market in particular, we noticed something new: a wave of tween and teen girls gravitating straight to our lanyards and wristlets, with moms and grandmas happily in tow.
A Moment Worth the Heat
It was a hot one this weekend — both days pushed past 90 degrees with barely any breeze under the tent. But so many people who stopped by, even the ones who didn't end up buying anything, took the time to tell Patricia how beautiful her work was. That kind of thing doesn't show up on a sales report, but it's exactly why we keep doing this.
Tips If You're Visiting
- Go early if you can. Saturdays tend to draw a bigger crowd than Sundays, and mornings are noticeably more comfortable once the Texas heat sets in.
- Bring water and sunscreen — much of the plaza has shade, but not all of it, and Hill Country summers don't play around.
- Plan to spend a couple hours. With this many vendors and this much to see, it's easy to lose track of time.
- Walk down S Main Street while you're in town — there are some great little shops worth browsing beyond the market itself. If you're a pickle connoisseur (like our grandson Ezra), don't skip The Fickle Pickle.
- Grab a coffee at Black Rifle Coffee right across the street from the plaza — Chris always grabs an iced coffee there.
- Breakfast tacos are a must. Once setup is finished each morning before the first customers arrive, Chris runs and picks up breakfast tacos from Mary's Tacos on San Antonio Ave, and we enjoy them right at our tent.
- Hungry after browsing? Darkside Brick Oven Pizza nearby is one of our personal favorites — walls covered in movie memorabilia and 80s nostalgia that makes it feel like stepping straight back into childhood.
Come Find Us
Look for the sage green tablecloths and the bluebonnet-and-dragonfly sign — that's us! You'll find Patricia's handmade quilted totes, stroller bags, wallets, hair bows, custom fabric alphabet letters, coffee sleeves, and book covers, plus whatever seasonal pieces we're working on that month. You can browse our full collection online anytime.
If you can't make it out to Boerne this month, everything we bring to market is also available anytime at elam-co.com, and we're always happy to talk custom orders.
See you next month!