Bringing People Together: Borderlands Market engages different communities with themed events

Cynthia Martinez just started hosting Borderlands Market this June, but already she has been able to involve different groups by hosting themed markets.

Borderlands Market held a Selena tribute market Nov. 16, and have an ugly sweater market Nov. 29, a “Dreamland” Disney-inspired market Dec. 6, a “Countdown to Christmas” market Dec. 14, a Winterhaven market Dec. 12 to 13 and Dec. 19 to 20 and a “Last Minute” Christmas market Dec. 21.

Most of the markets are held in Ramada by Wyndham’s parking lot. They recently moved to the downtown location, which has room for more vendors.

Select markets will take place at Tucson Boxing and Fitness, their old location.

The Winterhaven market will be set up at the corner of Fort Lowell and Country Club roads, near the Winterhaven neighborhood.

Many of the markets have special elements that fit with their themes.

As part of the “Como La Flor” market, they will be bringing in Selena impersonator from Texas.

For families, the market will offer a face painter, a bath balm mixing station and chances to do karaoke.

“I had a mom reach out and ask if her daughter could sing. I guess her daughter won a talent show singing Selena recently. I thought that was so cool,” Martinez said.

Patrons will be encouraged to dress up in their best Selena looks.

At Borderlands Market, attendees can support local vendors. Credit: (Calvin Booth/Submitted)

Martinez said this market is special to her because she is a fan of Selena, with whom she identifies.

“I feel like I relate a lot to her because I like singing, and I’d always grown-up singing. When I would watch the movie with my family, it was cool to see that they’re Mexican American. She didn’t really speak fluent Spanish, but she could sing Spanish. That was such a big thing that I could relate to because a lot of people are surprised that I don’t speak Spanish fluently, even though I can understand it. She’s just a big icon in the Latinx community,” Martinez said.

For the ugly sweater market, attendees will have a chance to wear their favorite ugly Christmas sweater.

The “Dreamland” market will have karaoke and Disney characters.

Martinez said the markets are a way that people can shop local, especially close to the holidays.

They usually draw anywhere from 35 to 40 local vendors and food trucks.

Martinez said vendors aren’t required to have items that fit with the theme of the markets, but some do get excited when they do.

“I have vendors that get scared that our markets are themed because they assume that they have to have themed items. That’s not at all what I’m doing. It can be fun for people who make art to have themed things… There are a good amount of vendors who were like, ‘Oh, I’m going to have a Selena painting,’ or ‘I’m going to make flower crowns,’” Martinez said.

Martinez said vendors sell different types of items, including artwork, tote bags, mugs, stickers, apparel, baked goods, crystals, candles and suncatchers.

Many of the vendors have been with them since the beginning. Martinez tries to make it easy for them to participate.

“You apply one time, and once we accept you, you can see on our website the list of future events and pick which events you want. You can even pick your spot number. There’s a map. You can pick if you want a corner. You can pick close to the wall. I think a lot of people like that, they can do that,” Martinez said.

Certain markets, like the Winterhaven one, have more limited space. For these markets, they use a curation process to select vendors.

Martinez understands the struggles and rewards of being a vendor because she is one. She owns her own candle business.

She decided to start hosting her own markets after moving back to Tucson. As a vendor, she did markets in El Paso, where her husband was stationed for almost four years.

**Often, attendees will dress up to fit with Borderlands Market themed events.** (Calvin Booth/Submitted)

“Their markets are really big, and the market community is amazing there. They’re just really organized… Just how community-oriented all of these markets are really inspired me… In Texas, I remember going to a Selena market when I was selling my candles a year or two ago. …A lot of little girls dressed up in their little Selena outfits, and people were dancing to the music. There was a big crowd of people watching the performer. I thought it was cool that something as simple as a market could bring people together as a community,” Martinez said.

In the past, Borderlands has had Labubu, “Summerween” and book lovers themed markets.

During the Labubu market, they offered a tote-bag painting activity.

“More people did it than I expected. We sold out of tote bags. I had made stencils for people to use to paint their tote bag. We had groups of friends who sat around, and they painted their tote bags together. It’s those little things that I love being there for, seeing people with their friends making that memory,” Martinez said.

Martinez said with the markets, they try to cater to people with different shared interests.

“The reason I think doing themes is important is because everyone has their own niche, and everyone has their own community. We can be a hub where we can provide a space for each of these different communities to gather. At the book lovers market, there was a lot of people. It was so cool that we got to host that for them and witness all these people doing a community book swap,” Martinez said.

Throughout November, Borderlands is collecting items for a food drive, which will benefit those in need. Attendees can bring donations up to the info booth.

Anyone who donates three items or more will receive a ticket for a raffle. They will have a chance to win prizes donated by local vendors and businesses.

Borderlands will also be hosting an adopt-a-family event, where people who want to give back are matched up with those in need.

Ugly Sweater Market

WHEN: 12-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29

WHERE: Ramada by Wyndham,

777 W. Cushing Street, Tucson

COST: Free