SoWa Open Market, South End

SoWa Open Market sets up on Sundays along Harrison Avenue and in the courtyards off Thayer Street. White tents run in two lines beside brick warehouses; gallery doors stand open behind the booths. Painters hang small works on wire grids, ceramicists lay out short rows of bowls and mugs, and printmakers clip posters to plywood walls. A vintage section spreads racks of denim and old concert tees across the asphalt. On a separate pad, a small farm stand stacks tomatoes, peppers, and late herbs in shallow crates.

Music comes on early. A duo works through a set beside a loading dock while a sound tech rides the levels. Farther down the block, a second stage handles noon acts and keeps the volume under the level of conversation. Between them, a tasting area pours short flights from local producers. Food trucks rotate each week—one turns out breakfast sandwiches for the first hour, another grills skewers by lunch, a baker sells cookies by the box for the ride home. Folding tables stand near the shade of the warehouse walls; a wide aisle stays clear for strollers and carts.

The South End location makes side trips easy. Galleries on Thayer show current exhibitions, and the artists’ studios in the courtyards open for browsing. Victorian bowfronts on the side streets give a quick read of the neighborhood’s architecture, and the walk north to Tremont Street adds cafés for a later stop. The market runs rain or shine with minor changes for wind or heat, and staff post any weather adjustments at the entrance.

Parking fills quickly on Sundays and side streets switch to residential rules by midafternoon. A planned drop-off solves most of that. Boston Town Car can set passengers down on Harrison Avenue near the entrance and return at the agreed time for the ride home, leaving the visit centered on the market rather than the search for a space.