First Saturday Arts Market

This is a great little outdoor market that occurs on the first Saturday of the month. They have little booths set up that you can walk through and they sell items such as paintings, art sculptures, jewelry, and even soaps. There is also live music for entertaining and a food truck or 2 if you get hungry. It’s great to meet and see what local artists are doing in the community and everyone was very friendly and welcoming, I never felt pressured to buy anything. Although the market was much smaller than I expected, we did happen to find 2 canvas paintings we loved and bought them on the spot. The artist we bought from was very friendly and even gave us a good deal for both paintings.
This is definitely a great free event to check out if you’re ever in the area, especially as the weather gets cooler it’s nice to spend some time outdoors. Oh and feel free to bring your pups as well — one booth even had a dog water bowl out for doggie visitors.
Parking wasn’t too bad either– there is an adjacent lot next to the market as well as plenty of street parking around the neighborhood.

This is a great venue for artwork you won’t find anywhere else in Houston. Good way to support the local arts, and fabulous for Christmas shopping. Photography, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, textiles and mixed media… all with live music and mouthwatering eats from food trucks.

This is a great little market full of wonderful vendors. Love the live entertainment and all of the smiling faces! No one pressures you to purchase anything and the artists are very welcoming!

Cool little market to attend. Lots of booths with unique art, crafts, jewelry, pottery etc. Live band playing as well, and usually a food truck around the corner to enjoy as you shop. The market is also dog friendly, given you have a dog that can handle being surrounded by people. Parking was pretty easy, there’s a lot available right next to the market. I would love to see more booths in the future.
I got some great earrings that are very unique, and look forward to coming back to the market on future first Saturdays!

So I’m writing this as an artist that participates in the Market, which incidentally has or is about to turn ten years old. Mitch, the head honcho, has done an amazing job of curating and marketing the market as a real deal art market. It’s great for the artists and people who come through equally. If you love supporting local art, this is as direct as it gets.

Like the name says. The first Saturday of every month and is a smaller version of White Linen Night. I don’t have a lot more to add. Just, it is great that such a wonderful event that is completely independent can continue to thrive. Not all months are created equal though. The last few have been kind of blah. Though this month was the first really great day, weather wise in Houston and everyone was out. Up and down 19^th, booths and bands. One of the only true pedestrian friendly areas in the city and a fun event to showcase that. Just an FYI. during the hot summer, it takes place at night. Once it cools down during the fall, they start in the morning.

I was so excited when I first heard about the First Saturday Arts Market. It happens once a month on the First Saturday of that month. It’s a year round event and it shifts from morning time in the winter months and to the evening in the summer months.
Most of the businesses along 19^th street open up late and it’s a big festival of sorts. There are artists from physical art to musical art performing. Lots of little booths and tables to display their craft. Overall, it brings this whole area to life and is worth visiting at least once. Gives you something different to do on a date.

First Saturday Art Market is a wonderful venue to meet some of the most talented local artist Houston has to offer! Become a regular and enjoy great art, live music and discover all sorts of hidden treasures 19^th street has to offer!

Cool mix of artists/​vendors. This was my third visit, and although there are some regulars there, there are always a few different artists rotating in so it’s not just a repeat of previous months. New theme idea (Hawaiian this month) is cute. Nice way to buy local, great possibilities for one of a kind gifts.

My friend lives right next to the market, so when she invited me, I assumed she went just out of the convenience of the location. However, I soon found out it is truly fun and you can find awesome stuff. They have live music (a wide variety) from mostly independent artists, which I always support. They have tents set up with all sorts of stuff from glass jewelry to paintings and soap. I also like to wander off to the little shops on 19^th street to see what they have. I didn’t try their food but it’s there.

I just attended the market for the first time. Live music, food trucks, cool jewelry, interesting paintings, sculpture, pottery. Really nice vibe and community. Can’t wait to visit again.

I really don’t want to come on here and criticize an artist’s work, but I will say that the man who organizes this market needs to start getting more choosy with the vendors he allows into the market. MUCH more choosy.
It’s been a good while since I’ve been to the art market, but I have gone quite a bit in the past and the selection of art seems to always be sub par. Don’t get me wrong, there are some talented individuals that set up shop here and there is definitely a good variety of things. Some of the better vendors in my opinion are: Evolved Metal (awesome metal sculptures), Cammie’s Soaps (handmade soaps that smell heavenly), Gulf Coast Gourmet (olive oils and spices), and San Saba River Pecan Company (pecan pies in a jar, salsas, jams, so much yumminess).
There seems to be an overwhelming amount of jewelry booths here in comparison to everything else. While there are some talented artists offering wire wrap and glass blown jewelry, there are also many vendors offering a selection of jewelry that looks like they did nothing more than string some store bought beads together. Anyone selling something that looks like it was purchased from Harwin to resell should not be admitted as a vendor into an art market, in my opinion. There are a lot of photography and painting booths — some great and some not. It would have been nice to see some booths offering either handmade furniture or home décor.
This market never seemed to be busy to me anytime I went and besides some of the regular vendors I named above, I noticed that each month the vendors would switch out for the most part. I don’t know if they’re not making enough of a profit to come back or what, but the return rate does not seem too high. I guess since it’s not a busy market there isn’t too much of a demand for participation from local artists, but I really think something should be done to draw in a bigger crowd and offer a bigger, better selection of art.

This is a fantastic atmosphere to support local artists. The market is a very relaxing way to spend some time on a Saturday to view and possibly purchase some great fine art work and jewelry. Apparently, it is a year round event, with the winter months focusing on morning markets, and the summer months focusing on evening markets. Overall, I was very impressed and I would love to come back again as a patron and maybe even as an artist myself!

Houston’s grooviest art scene is held monthly — every first Saturday — in the Houston Heights. Some of the funnest people display their hard-​worked crafts. There’s always live music from local artists too. In the summer, they hold it in the cooler evenings.
If you’ve not gone, you are missing out. Whether art lover, art seller, or just a plain ol’ bored soul, this monthly event has hundreds of repeat patrons so you know there’s gotta be something to it!
Also, don’t miss out on the White Linen Night in The Heights — which is FSAM’s August blowout special. Everyone gets decked out in white linen clothing and all of 19^th St. is open until very late. It’s definitely the place to see and be seen!

The beauty of the First Saturday Arts Market is the way it brings all of 19^th St. to life once a month. All of the business on this bustling block of eclectic and boutique shops put on their glitter and feature something special. Many shops offer free treats or drinks and special sales. Street vendors and artists set up on the sidewalks and H-town’s finest of food trucks will likely be cruising by or settling into a nearby empty lot. Sew Crafty often features activities that can inspire the dullest of characters for $ 5!
My chosen itinerary begins at the parking lot just off Heights and slowly makes its way down 19^th popping in and out of shops and chatting with street vendors until I reach the Arts Market. Then I peruse Modern Home for any exciting new pieces that I can in no way afford but like to picture laid out, in my mind, in the house that I also cannot afford that is on Heights Blvd where it all began…

As an artist myself I try to find the time to help support other artists out there. So when I heard that the FSAM was coming up I planned on checking out.
You don’t need to buy anything (although I’m sure they would appreciate it if you did) to enjoy the atmosphere of walking around, talking to the artists, and seeing everyone’s indiviual talents. Really no two people are the same so each tent should be explored.
The only bad thing about my trip was I got there too early and so not everyone had set up yet. Bad planning on my part.
If you are looking for something to do on the weekend, try and keep this place in mind. Even if it’s only for 20 minutes, it’s worth it.

No longer the best-​kept secret in Houston, the First Saturday Arts Market is a force that reaches beyond its Heights location. You’ll always find excellent fine art, jewelry, wood works, pottery, photography, GREAT music, and so much more… and the best people in the Universe.
Easy parking (bad parking arrangements always turn me off to events) and short walking distances make the market highly accessible.
It is always a great time at the FSAM so come check it out!

If you want to be amazed, if you want something cool and original, if you just want to hang and have a good time listening to great music, if you want to see your neighbors… then don’t EVER miss the First Saturday Arts Market located at the Wind, Water Gallery parking lot every first Saturday of each month. This month, Oct.3,2009 is the beginning of the Winter Daylight Hours, check the home page for that info… and come down and see Mitch Cohen, the curator creator deluxe of the Arts Market.. Maybe you are an emerging artist and need a place to display and sell your wares… this is the place. Mitch is a delightful person to deal with, no bs from him. unlike some other Gallery owners in Houston… he is right up front.
There is amazing metal art, original jewelry, soaps, and if you need your tarot cards read, there is a really GREAT reader there named Sister Glo… you go and see for yourself…