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The Standard’s Guide to Bay Area holiday pop-up shops

Let this round-up of holiday pop-up shops guide you through the unique gifts one can find while supporting local merchants.

People wearing masks browse and sell artwork and crafts at tables inside a large, well-lit room with high ceilings and framed photos on the walls.
Vendors ply their wares at the annual SF City Hall Holiday Pop-Up Shop on Dec. 7, 2021. | Camille Cohen/The Standard

The holidays are upon us, marking a season of spending sprees—for our loved ones, of course. 

Sure, you could buy online and risk losing your bounty to porch pirates.

Or, you could trade a little convenience for the adventure of exploring what local businesses have to offer with our guide to holiday pop-up shops around the Bay Area.

Small Business Saturday

Makers Holiday Bazaar (opens in new tab)
Gratta Wines
📍2022 Lane St., SF (opens in new tab) 
🕑 1-5 p.m.

Santa Claus will be in the Bayview this weekend to join about a dozen vendors selling artisan wares at Gratta Wines. The market will feature all sorts of handmade items, including jewelry, wine bottles, pastries and pasta sauces. You better not leave before snapping a photo with Santa.

Holiday Market Pop-Up at Decant SF (opens in new tab) 
📍1168 Folsom St., SF (opens in new tab) 
🕑 1-5 p.m.

At its inaugural holiday market, SoMa wine shop Decant SF will keep your glass full while you peruse locally made goods from eight vendors. 

Dec. 2-4

Le Marché Pop-Up  (opens in new tab)
KTF Warehouse 
📍2310 Fourth St., Berkeley (opens in new tab)
🕑 Fri.-Sat.: 1-5 p.m. | Sun.: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

This market pops up just twice a year and features a carefully curated collection of modern home goods like glassware, linens and cutlery with classic French flair.

Dec. 3

Muni Diaries Market (opens in new tab)
📍80 Albion St., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

Are you a MUNI fan? If so, you’re in luck because the folks behind the Muni Diaries podcast will host their own holiday market selling art and trinkets crafted by 10 artists who welcomed the challenge of making transit-themed gifts.

Bayview Makers Mashup
Public Glass
📍1750 Armstrong Ave. SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Join Public Glass for their annual Bayview Makers Mashup Market, which will feature dozens of local makers in an interactive and dynamic local marketplace that is the ultimate example of shopping local! Live glassblowing demonstrations, pop-ups from your favorite local cafes, wine, beer, and spirit samples, and a diverse range of vendors selling everything from hats to soap makers and more!

A display at the annual SF City Hall Holiday Pop-Up Shop on Dec. 7, 2021, features holiday ornaments. | Camille Cohen/The Standard

Dec. 3-4

Sunset Holiday Mercantile at Golden Gate Park (opens in new tab)
San Francisco County Fair Building 
📍1199 Ninth Ave., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 Sat.-Sun.: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 

How about shopping for a good cause? More than 85 local makers will join live musical acts and food trucks at the seventh installment of the Sunset Holiday Mercantile, which raises money for Sunset Youth Services. The fair is family friendly, but gives adults a beer and wine garden to look forward to each year.

FrameArt Studio Holiday Market (opens in new tab)
📍153 Bacon St., SF (opens in new tab) 
🕑 Sat.: 2-7 p.m. | Sun.: 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

Swing by the Portola District for FrameArt Studio’s grand opening of a framing shop and community art space. A dozen makers will join artists from San Francisco in the celebration that will showcase work from Farnaz Ceramics, prints from artist Brandi Ynocencio and vegan and keto cakes from Cathy’s Cake Salon. The holiday market will run from 2 to 7 p.m. on Dec 3 and noon to 6 p.m. on Dec. 4.

The Crucible’s GIFTY Craft Show & Open House (opens in new tab)
📍1260 7th St., Oakland (opens in new tab)
🕑 Sat.: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sun.: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Discover holiday gifts created by local artists, artisans, and Crucible faculty. GIFTY has something for everyone on your list, from one-of-a-kind sculpture to functional pottery to locally made soaps and more. Enjoy family-friendly activities in between shopping. Then go to the bar for some drinks and snacks. All visitors ages 12 and up who enter the building will be required to show proof of vaccination.

Dec. 4

Hunters Point Shipyard Artists Holiday Show (opens in new tab)
Hunters Point Shipyard
📍451 Galvez St., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Over 70 artists will take over Building 101 at the Hunters Point Shipyard for the annual holiday show. There will also be free parking!

5th Annual Black Sunday Holiday Expo  (opens in new tab)
The Noire Wealth Xperience
📍255 2nd St, Oakland
🕑 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce is bringing back Black Sunday for the fifth time with an open-air holiday fair with Akoma Market. The event brings Black food and art to the outdoors and includes live music with special guest performers.

Dec. 6 

SF City Hall Pop-Up Shop  (opens in new tab)
📍1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

There should be something for everyone at this semi-annual pop-up. Some 30 local makers will set up shop at City Hall to sell handiwork such as jewelry, clothing, paintings and edible offerings like sweets and baked goods.

Dec. 8

Clement Street Holiday Stroll (opens in new tab)
📍Clement St., SF (opens in new tab) (Multiple locations)
🕑 5-9 p.m.

Stop by Clement Street in the Richmond District for the 12th Annual Clement Street Holiday Stroll! The event features over 20 shops and eateries, which will host special pop-ups, raffles, refreshments, crafts, music and more.  

Dec. 9 

In the Black Marketplace (opens in new tab)
📍1567 Fillmore St., SF (opens in new tab) 
🕑 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

This is more than a marketplace. In the Black forges a path to prosperity in the Black community. To that end, the shop picked Black Friday to mark its grand opening in a celebration that will bring 20 Black-owned businesses under one roof. Shoppers will have plenty of gifts to choose from, including clothing, accessories and home goods made by sought-after vendors.

Dec. 10 

La Cocina Holiday Market + Fundraiser (opens in new tab)
La Cocina Municipal Marketplace
📍332 Golden Gate Ave., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Support BIPOC women-owned small businesses while enjoying bites and drinks at La Cocina’s Municipal Marketplace, whose chefs will whip eats that complement drinks from La Paloma Bar (opens in new tab) and Fluid Cooperative Cafe (opens in new tab). It’s a service that lets you booze while you peruse assortments of crafts. Parents with young ones in tow can rest assured that there will be activities and entertainment, including drag performances, face painting, a photo booth and raffle.  

Halo Halo Holidays  (opens in new tab)
Kapwa Gardens 
📍967 Mission St., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Halo-Halo Holidays: A Festive Outdoor Filipino Holiday Crawl will be hosted by the SoMA Pilipinas Cultural District. The market should be brimming with local Filipino-owned vendors. It also features a workshop to make holiday wreaths and pictures with Santa as well as plenty of chances to shop for gifts.

Wakanda Winter Wonderland (opens in new tab)
African American Art & Cultural Complex
📍762 Fulton St., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

Crafters from all over the Bay Area will gather at the African American Art & Cultural Complex in the Fillmore District for the annual Wakanda Winter Wonderland. Together, families will make art, exchange gifts, and enjoy musical performances. 

ZeitMarkt  (opens in new tab)
Zeitgeist 
📍199 Valencia St., SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 1-6 p.m.

Crack open a beer and shop away at Zeitgeist, the Mission’s favorite beer garden and host to an event with a dozen or so local artists selling what would make for some very unique gifts. Live music will make for a festive backdrop and a bake sale to satisfy holiday sweet tooths.

The holidays are upon us, marking a season of spending sprees—for our loved ones, of course.
A craftsperson works on their wares at the annual SF City Hall Holiday Pop-Up Shop on Dec. 7, 2021. | Camille Cohen/The Standard

Dec. 15

Winter Wonderland at the Ruth (opens in new tab)
Bayview Opera House
📍4705 3rd St.,SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Go to the Bayview Opera House for Winter Wonderland 2022 at the Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre, which will include a Bayview Bazaar made up of neighborhood retail vendors and food vendors from En2action. Additionally, there will be live performances, ice sculptures, snowmen-building, and a special appearance by Santa and his elves.

Dec. 17

Visitacion Valley Holiday Light Festival + Art Show (opens in new tab)
Visitacion Valley Greenway
📍Leland Avenue and Peabody Street, SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Bring the family to Vis Valley’s Leland Avenue for the first-ever Holiday Light Festival, which includes a light show, live entertainment and holiday food.

Dec. 18

Castro Winter Wonderland  (opens in new tab)
📍Noe Street between Market and Beaver streets, SF (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

An art market hosted by the Castro Merchants Association is a centerpiece of the group’s Winter Wonderland. The event offers free photos with Santa, a drag queen story time, a sexy elf contest and a backdrop of festive music. Oh, and there’s also a petting zoo and a Santa’s Little Helper contest for the wee ones.

Dec. 18-19

Bardo Holiday Pop-Up Shop (opens in new tab)
Bardo Lounge & Supper Club
📍3343 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland (opens in new tab)
🕑 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The best part of hosting a holiday party—aside from the amazing food, of course—is getting to flaunt your fancy dinnerware. If that’s something in short supply at home, you can find some conversation-starting pieces at the annual vintage glassware sale hosted by Oakland’s Bardo Lounge & Supper Club.

Meaghan Mitchell can be reached at [email protected]

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