Traders Village in Houston is like a county fair. The sheer size of it is exciting. Under the tin roofs there is everything for sale from appliances to zapatos. Multiple food vendors feed the crowd, and an amusement park thrills riders for all ages.
Even late on a Sunday afternoon the line of cars waiting to pay the $6 parking fee at the multi-lane entrance was backed up on Eldridge Road.
There was a festive atmosphere in the shade with music in the background and kids playing with newly purchased toys. Families, many still in their church clothes, walked the aisles together. The crowd from the entrance gate had dissipated once it spread out among the more than 1,500 stalls.
The vendors were selling an array of new, used, and homemade goods plus fresh vegetables and parakeets. Clothes and tools looked to be the most popular items. Most of the vendors appeared to be professional or semiprofessional. There weren’t a lot of “garage sale” types of vendors.
The amusement park was nearly as popular as the shopping. Young children lined up to ride the beautiful merry-go-round while their older siblings opted for the “Fleafall,” a 128-foot tower that drops its passengers at free-fall speeds. There are enough rides to make the $14.99 all-day pass a bargain.
Shoppers can avoid the parking fee by staying at the RV park next to the mall. At $50 per night, it’s a bargain considering you’re within 30 minutes of downtown. The campground has a lot of long-term campers, but is quiet, has all the expected amenities, and is patrolled by security. From your campsite you’re a short walk to a shopper’s paradise.
Traders Village is in northwest Houston off of U.S. Highway 290. The market opens on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. The family-owned company also has flea markets in Grand Prairie and San Antonio.
1,731st in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere: Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/daily/travel.
This article appears in November 29 • 2024.
