Centro Moves Holidays on Houston Street to La Villita for December

San Antonio’s annual holiday vendor market will take place in the La Villita Historic Arts District this year, according to an announcement made Tuesday. Centro San Antonio informed downtown stakeholders that the event, known as Holidays on Houston Street, is relocating several blocks from its traditional site in the urban core. The change marks a departure from the past three years, during which the free public gathering was held along the central thoroughfare.

Local business owners welcomed the decision. Alex Cerna, owner of the arts store Yolix Luna since 2020, stated that the area has suffered from a lack of visitors. She noted that her storefront has been surrounded by construction fencing for six years, a condition exacerbated by pandemic-era closures and road work on Alamo Street. "We need the foot traffic," Cerna said. "We’ve spent months and months with not a soul walking by."

Nadine Fonseca, a special events planner for Centro, explained that the new location allows for a more integrated experience. She described the plan as a mix of food and non-food vendors that will blend into the existing neighborhood rather than forming a separate row of tents. The goal is to ensure that current retailers, artisans, and restaurants in La Villita benefit from the increased pedestrian volume.

Centro San Antonio is also expanding the event schedule. The market will now operate on both the first and third weekends in December. This expansion aligns with two major sporting events: the San Antonio Marathon programs scheduled for Dec. 4-6 and the NCAA Women’s Division I Volleyball Championships from Dec. 17-20. A Centro representative stated that the move to La Villita provides additional space for artisan and food and beverage vendors.

Trish DeBerry, President and CEO of Centro SA, characterized the La Villita location as a "little magical Christmas village." She emphasized that the name of the event remains Holidays on Houston Street despite the physical relocation. DeBerry assured stakeholders that the traditional street lighting would continue on Houston Street, where more than 393,000 mini-LED lights will decorate approximately 80 trees.

Shanon Miller, the city’s Chief Downtown Officer, said the relocation is part of an effort to distribute economic activity across different parts of downtown. The goal is to involve as many residents and businesses as possible. The city-sponsored Taste of Holidays community dinner, however, will remain on Houston Street near the Majestic Theater. Tickets for that separate event will be sold when they become available.