The Desert Tribe Expo, presented by Grace N Grit Designs, will bring together small business owners, makers, and artisans from across West Texas for two weekends of shopping and community connection this season.
The event will take place Nov. 8–9 and again Dec. 13–14 at Sunset Mall in San Angelo. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday hours are noon to 4 p.m.
Event Director and Co-Host Katie Holt Lehrman told The Concho Observer that the expo’s mission is to connect and uplift the local creative community.
“The Desert Tribe Expo is all about connection — bringing together makers, dreamers, and small business owners from across West Texas to celebrate creativity and community,” Lehrman said.
“What makes it special is the mix of passion and purpose you feel when you walk through the doors — every booth tells a story, every handshake builds a relationship. For shoppers, it’s a chance to discover unique, handcrafted items and meet the people behind them. For vendors, it’s an opportunity to grow, collaborate, and feel supported by a tribe that genuinely wants to see each other succeed.”
The two-day event will feature a lineup of local vendors offering handmade goods, food, and specialty items in a family-friendly setting. The first 25 customers each day will also receive a goody bag filled with surprises.
Lehrman said the idea for the Desert Tribe Expo began while she was working in the same mall where the event is now hosted.
“The Desert Tribe Expo started as an idea during Tax-Free Weekend while I was set up at a kiosk in the mall,” she said. “I noticed so many open spaces and thought, ‘What if these were filled with local makers and small businesses instead of big-box stores?’ That spark turned into something much bigger.”
According to Lehrman, the first show sold out more than 40 booths and occupied two storefronts inside the mall. Later events were condensed into a single storefront but featured as many local businesses as possible.
“Those early expos brought together people who are now some of my closest friends—and even inspired incredible success stories, like The Salty Heifers, who met at our event as two individual vendors, partnered up, started selling together at the Rodeo, and now have their own storefront right there in the same mall where it all began,” she said.
After taking a few years off to focus on her family, Lehrman said she is excited to bring the event back.
“After taking a few years off to grow our family, we’re back—bigger and better than ever,” Lehrman said. “The market and economy have changed, but our mission hasn’t: to build a thriving community that supports one another and grows together. That’s why our tagline has always been and will always be ‘Community Over Competition.’”
The event is open to the public and will feature opportunities for guests to connect with vendors, shop locally, and support small businesses.
For more information, contact The Desert Tribe Expo at (979) 599-4348, (570) 772-2583, or by email at help.grace.n.grit@gmail.com.
