Things To Do

Washington Avenue Arts District: Sawyer Yards, Second Saturday Guide

Date Published

Sawyer Yards Houston at night: three teal grain silos and an artist palette against the Houston skyline

At a glance

  • Where: First Ward, Houston, TX — 3 minutes from downtown; navigate to 2101 Winter St, Houston 77007
  • Hours: Campus buildings: Mon–Sat 9 am–5 pm; Second Saturday open studios: noon–5 pm
  • Cost: Free to visit the campus; individual studios sell work at their own prices
  • Parking: Free at Main Yard (2101 Winter St) and North Yard (1824 Spring St)
  • Time needed: Typically 2–4 hours for a full Second Saturday; 1 hour for a casual weekday walk-through

Sawyer Yards is a 55-acre campus of converted warehouses and industrial buildings in Houston's Washington Avenue Arts District, three minutes west of downtown. The campus, which its operators describe as the nation's largest creative campus, houses more than 400 working artists across 27 buildings. On the second Saturday of every month, those studio doors open from noon to 5 p.m. and the public can walk in for free.

If you have not been, the scale surprises most first-timers. You can spend four hours working through five interconnected buildings and still miss entire wings. This guide covers which buildings to visit, how Second Saturday works, where to park, and where to eat without leaving campus.

Which buildings to visit

Silver Street Studios

Silver Street Studios is the anchor building of the Sawyer Yards campus and the venue most first-time visitors recognize by name. The Warehouse at Silver Street — the large event hall inside the same complex — hosts evening events throughout the year. On Second Saturday, 28 or more artists typically open their studios here, making it the single highest concentration of open doors on campus.

Best for: first-time visitors; it gives you the full range of the campus in one building.

Winter Street Studios

Winter Street Studios sits at 2101 Winter St, Houston, TX 77007 — the same address you navigate to for Main Yard parking. More than 26 artists typically participate on Second Saturday. High ceilings, exposed brick, and large industrial windows make the studios here some of the most photogenic in the complex.

Best for: mixed-media and large-format work; photographers.

The Silos at Sawyer Yards

The Silos take their name from the actual grain silos converted into studio space when the campus expanded. It is the most visually distinctive building in the complex. More than 20 artists open during Second Saturday, including Art Machine Gallery (Studio 215), Liliana Fine Art Gallery (Studio 203), and Ongrounds Art Gallery (Studio 118).

Insider tip: the galleries in The Silos tend to show completed, sale-ready work. If you want to buy directly off the wall or commission a piece, start here.

Best for: gallery-style browsing; buyers and collectors.

Spring Street Studios

Spring Street Studios anchors the north end of the campus (use North Yard parking at 1824 Spring St, Houston, TX 77007). Fewer studios open on Second Saturday — typically five — which makes it a quieter, less crowded stop. Artists here often work in larger formats with more room to spread out.

Best for: anyone who wants to talk to an artist without competing for attention.

Sabine Street Studios

Sabine Street Studios is one of the smaller buildings on the Second Saturday circuit, with seven or more studios typically open. The mix leans toward fine art and craft-based work.

Best for: a worthwhile add-on after Winter Street or Silver Street.

First Industrial Studios

First Industrial Studios occupies the northwest pocket of the campus and has a raw industrial feel — exposed pipes, unfinished floors — that some of the resident artists lean into as part of their aesthetic. Holler Brewing Co. operates a taproom here (Studio A), which makes it a natural last stop on a full-campus day. Rozi Turnbull Gallery (Studio 2) is also based in this building.

Best for: a beer after a long Second Saturday; artists working in large-scale or industrial-leaning work.

How Second Saturday works

Second Saturday is a free, self-guided open studios event held on the second Saturday of every month, noon to 5 p.m. No ticket, no tour guide, no reservation required.

The five main studio buildings — Silver Street, Winter Street, Spring Street, The Silos, and Sabine Street — plus First Industrial open their doors simultaneously. Participating artists post a notice outside their studio; if the door is open, you can walk in. Some studios have work for sale; others are mid-project and happy to talk through what they are making.

Studio counts vary by month. November Second Saturday typically draws the largest number of participating artists and is often paired with a holiday market on campus. Summer months are quieter, though the warehouse buildings are air-conditioned.

Do: arrive by 12:30 p.m. if you want to cover all five buildings. Studios can close early.

Don't: bring large bags or backpacks — studio spaces are tight.

Do: bring a card or cash. Artists set their own payment terms.

Tips and best time to visit

Campus buildings are open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on regular days. You can visit on any weekday to walk the public corridors and see the architecture, though individual studios are working spaces and not open outside Second Saturday.

The best window for a first Second Saturday visit is October through March, when Houston weather is mild. For free things to do in Houston, Sawyer Yards on Second Saturday is one of the best half-day options in the city.

Getting there and parking

Sawyer Yards is in Houston's First Ward, just west of I-45 and north of the Washington Avenue corridor.

Free parking at two campus lots:

  • Main Yard Parking: 2101 Winter St, Houston, TX 77007 (central; use this first)
  • North Yard Parking: 1824 Spring St, Houston, TX 77007 (less crowded; best for Spring Street Studios access)

On Second Saturday, the Main Yard fills quickly after noon. Arrive before 12:30 p.m. or go directly to the North Yard. Street parking on nearby blocks is available on weekends.

By METRO: check the METRO Houston guide for buses serving the Washington Avenue corridor. The campus entrance is walkable from several stops along Washington Ave.

Where to eat and drink

You do not have to leave Sawyer Yards to eat after a morning of studio-hopping.

B&B Butchers & Restaurant

1814 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007. B&B Butchers is an upscale steakhouse with dry-aged beef, an extensive wine list, and a working butcher shop on-site. It sits in the East Washington section of the campus and is the full sit-down dinner option after a long Second Saturday. Reservations are recommended on weekends; check the official site for current hours.

Best for: a proper dinner.

Holler Brewing Co.

Located in First Industrial Studios (Studio A), Holler Brewing pours a rotating lineup of craft beers from a taproom right inside the studio complex. Check Holler Brewing's website for current hours before you go. For a comparison to the rest of the city's scene, see the best breweries in Houston guide.

Best for: a cold beer after walking the campus.

City Orchard Cidery

1201 Oliver St, Studio 108, Houston. City Orchard crafts small-batch hard ciders on campus, with a tasting room open to the public. It is the lighter option for visitors who prefer fruit-forward flavors over beer.

Best for: non-beer drinkers; a low-key tasting experience.

Taco Deli

Taco Deli's Sawyer Yards location (Studio D, East Washington section) serves breakfast and lunch tacos, migas, and a strong salsa bar. Lines can be long after noon on Second Saturday weekends; arriving early is worth it.

Best for: a quick bite before or right as the studios open.

Nearby attractions

Sawyer Yards sits between downtown and the Heights, which puts a lot within reach after your visit.

How we chose

We limited this guide to buildings confirmed as part of Sawyer Yards' official Second Saturday circuit (sawyeryards.com/events/second-saturday) and food-and-drink venues confirmed in the official campus tenant directory (sawyeryards.com/campus/business/food-drink). Studio counts per building reflect a typical Second Saturday roster; the exact number varies monthly. Check sawyeryards.com before you go for that month's confirmed date and participant list.

Save this: Second Saturday route

Never drive between campus buildings — Sawyer Yards is a walking campus.

  1. Park at 2101 Winter St (Main Yard) and start at Winter Street Studios. Work from the top floor down.
  2. Cross to The Silos at Sawyer Yards. Check Art Machine Gallery and Ongrounds Art Gallery.
  3. Walk to Silver Street Studios. Most studios, most variety.
  4. Add Sabine Street Studios for a quick pass.
  5. End at First Industrial Studios for a beer at Holler Brewing.
  6. Optional: drive or walk to Spring Street Studios (North Yard, 1824 Spring St) for the quieter north end of campus.

Checklist before you go:

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is Second Saturday at Sawyer Yards in Houston?

Second Saturday is a free, self-guided open studios event held on the second Saturday of every month at Sawyer Yards in Houston's First Ward, from noon to 5 p.m. No ticket or reservation is required. Participating artists open their studio doors so you can walk in, view the work, and talk directly to the creator.

How much does it cost to visit Sawyer Yards?

Walking the Sawyer Yards campus is free. Campus buildings are open to the public Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no admission charge. Individual artists set their own prices for work on Second Saturday.

Where do I park at Sawyer Yards?

Sawyer Yards offers free parking at two lots: Main Yard Parking at 2101 Winter St, Houston, TX 77007, and North Yard Parking at 1824 Spring St, Houston, TX 77007. On Second Saturday, the Main Yard fills quickly after noon; the North Yard is a good backup and is close to Spring Street Studios.

How big is Sawyer Yards?

Sawyer Yards spans more than 55 acres and 2 million square feet of interior space across 27 buildings in Houston's First Ward, according to sawyeryards.com. The campus houses more than 400 working artists and 600 creative tenants in total.

How long should I plan to spend at Sawyer Yards on Second Saturday?

Plan for two to four hours to cover the main buildings. Five buildings participate in the open studios event simultaneously, and the campus is large enough that rushing through in under two hours means missing most of the studios.

Are there restaurants at Sawyer Yards?

Yes. The campus tenant directory lists B&B Butchers & Restaurant (1814 Washington Ave), Taco Deli, Holler Brewing Co., City Orchard Cidery, Kubo's Sushi, Urban Bird Hot Chicken, and Local Pho, among others. Hours vary; check each venue's official site before your visit.