The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar has a 40-year history that originated in the very roots of Austin’s now-legendary music scene. The Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) was considered the premiere ‘third coast’ concert venue for live music in the 1970s, and a vibrant community center. The folks around the AWHQ were raising eyebrows long before “Keep Austin Weird” became a slogan. Many local musicians, songwriters and performers, some of whom are now considered legends, honed their craft there. National touring artists included Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, and Frank Zappa.

The AWHQ quickly became a countercultural institution known for out-of-the-box thinking. The scene around the Armadillo became a powerful magnet pulling in young creative people and energy from all over the country and gave Austin the roots of its current attractive cultural identity. This is where the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar was born.

In 1975, Lucinda Williams, through an offhand comment, inspired a fabulous solution to AWHQ’s mid-winter money woes. “Too bad the artists down on the drag don’t have a warm, dry place like this to sell their art for Christmas”. Her spark provided a perfect opportunity to expand AWHQ’s cultural and economic prosperity.

Over the next 40 years the Armadillo Bazaar grew in 6 different locations. After AWHQ closed, other venues included Cherry Creek Plaza, Austin Opera House, later called The Terrace, Austin Music Hall, Austin Convention Center before finding a home at the Palmer Event Center in 2010. Along the way the Armadillo Bazaar grew in size from 8,000 to 44,000 sq. ft., starting with a few brave artists to more than 160 artists today.

The Armadillo Bazaar now attracts visitors from around the world each year, ranging from locals who make it their family Christmas tradition to tourists and collectors of fine art. It’s a favorite for locals for generations.

Producers Bruce Willenzik, who was there from the beginning at AWHQ, Annie Harding and Anne Johnson take great care in selecting and nurturing the careers of artists, to ensure an attractive merchandise mix. Through continuous improvement, the Armadillo creates the best environment to match quality and cutting edge artists with appreciative buyers. It has become an incubator for creativity and gained a national reputation as a fine art show and music festival. We have become a model for others in the community and industry.

This philosophy of community, enhancing spheres of prosperity and commitment to art and music are what makes the Armadillo Bazaar the best of Austin’s ‘weird’ and wonderful. Armadillo will continue to be the place for an authentic Austin live music and art buying experience, where creativity, originality, and fun are celebrated in the true spirit of the holidays. The long-term future of the show has been secured. Anne Johnson will take over the show for the next 40 years, and will pass it down to future Armadillo generations.