Free market returns, draws steady crowd

People lined up before the doors opened May 2 at Peace Lutheran Church, waiting to step into a space where nothing carried a price tag. 

The Las Cruces Really Really Free Market returned for its monthly run, continuing a community-driven event that has grown from a small outdoor setup into a consistent draw. Organizers said the turnout reflects how much the concept has taken hold locally. 

“We get anywhere from, like, 200 to 300 people showing up every month,” said Jonah Holguin, one of the organizers.   

What started at Young Park after a group of friends saw a similar model in Albuquerque has since moved indoors, expanding alongside the volume of donations and turnout. 

Inside, tables filled quickly with clothing, kitchenware, books and furniture, while people moved through the room sorting through items, carrying what they needed and stopping to talk as others did the same. The flow shifted throughout the morning as donations came in, and items left just as fast. There are no transactions involved. People either arrive with items to donate or walk in and take what they need. A structure, Holguin said, is central to how the market operates. 

“You can walk in and literally take anything you want,” he said.   

The selection depends entirely on what is brought in, though clothing — particularly women’s clothing — makes up the majority of donations. Household goods and larger items regularly appear as well, adding to the range each month. 

For some, the draw extends beyond what is on the tables. 

Claudine Medina, a Las Cruces resident who stopped by to browse, said the environment itself is what stands out. 

“Just to see the community get together to help one another,” Medina said.   

Holguin said that shared participation is what sustains the event, pointing to the balance between those who give and those who take. 

“We live in abundance, and there’s more than enough to go around,” he said.   

Organizers have also expanded the effort through smaller pop-up markets during the Mutual Aid and Solidarity Fair downtown, though the monthly gathering remains the foundation. At its core, Holguin said the goal is to show what the model can represent beyond a single event. 

“The goal is to show people that another world is possible,” he said.   

As the morning continued, the steady movement inside the church never slowed, with items changing hands and conversations carrying across the room. 

“It’s 100% the community,” he said.