On Sunday, August 3, 2025, the final day of the annual Latin American Market at Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town San Diego wrapped up a three-day cultural celebration showcasing folk art, textiles, ceramics, jewelry and crafts from Mexico, Central and South America. The event transformed the courtyard of the iconic Bazaar del Mundo Shops into a vibrant cultural hub filled with colorful artisan booths, live performances and culinary offerings.
Visitors experienced a lively fusion of tradition and creativity, as award-winning master artisans—including Oaxacan woodcarvers Jacobo and María Ángeles—demonstrated their craft live, carving fantastical alebrijes from copal wood in fast, precise displays. Guests could also watch Zapotec weavers at work on pedal looms, dyeing wool with natural pigments and weaving traditional rugs, complete with cultural motifs like the “Eye of God.”
The market featured handcrafted goods such as embroidered clothing, handwoven textiles, Mata Ortiz pottery, hammered silver jewelry and painted clay figures. Many artisans came from Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador and beyond to participate in one of the nation’s most extensive collections of authentic Latin American folk art.
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The event was free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Free parking was provided at the nearby Caltrans lot after 5 p.m. on Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Diane Powers, owner and longtime organizer of Bazaar del Mundo, emphasized the market’s role in fostering cultural exchange and providing international exposure for artisans. She has nurtured personal relationships with artists through travels across Latin America, helping names like Jacobo and María Ángeles gain profiles in U.S. art circles nearly three decades ago.
Jacobo Ángeles spoke through a translator about the market’s deeper purpose: “In these times of division and of insecurity, these events are a way of bringing people together and building bridges from one culture to another.”
Throughout the market, live music filled the halls and courtyard—from Andean folk ensembles and strolling mariachis to folkloric dancers and guitar serenades—while nearby Casa Guadalajara’s food vendors offered mouthwatering tacos, elotes, aguas frescas and fruit cups.
More than 25 artists presented their work over the weekend, including celebrated creators of Mata Ortiz pottery, whimsical animal sculptures and traditional weavings. Their work reflects deep roots in ancestral techniques and symbolism passed down through generations.
The Latin American Market continues a legacy that began in 1982, becoming one of the premier showcases of Latin American folk art in the United States. It serves as both an immersive cultural experience and a commercial stage where artisans gain visibility, build collector relationships, and share tradition-driven artistry with a broad audience.
By filling Old Town San Diego with color, music and hands-on demonstrations, the Latin American Market offered a powerful blend of cultural celebration and authentic artistic expression—bringing communities together through craft, commerce and connection.
