Orange County shines during the holiday season, doesn’t it? City streets are decorated, the trees bloom with lights, and everything seems just a bit more cheerful… even if there’s no real snow.
The holidays are fun, but they’re also a whirlwind of shopping, baking, planning, preparing… and did we mention shopping?
Yeah, shopping is pretty much inescapable during the holiday season. Gifts, decorations, food… you’re going to have to shop for it. Your usual retail store is a great resource during the holiday season, but it isn’t the only one out there. There are plenty of places that offer unique gift ideas, let you shop in nice communal spaces, and bring the excitement back to holiday shopping.
Yep. We’re talking about craft fairs.
It’s worth pointing out that craft fairs are the way to go if you’re a believer in the SoCal sustainable/local ethic. Shopping with a local crafter means that your purchase goes to directly support that person and their family, and you get to take home a one of a kind item that’s sure to please.
Holiday craft fairs aren’t just about shopping. They’re also a great way to spend an afternoon… listening to holiday music, browsing unusual gift ideas, chatting with nice folks, and even sampling unique foods from local food trucks or food vendors. And unlike most retail stores, most holiday craft fairs are dog-friendly (if your four-legged shopping buddy can handle the crowds).
During the holiday season, Orange County has craft fairs for everybody… from church-based holiday boutiques to cultural touchstones like Christkindlmarkt or massive holiday bazaars with over 100 vendors.
So what are you waiting for? Here’s our list of OC Holiday Craft Fairs so that you can go have fun while you get your shopping done!
Christkindlmarkt – Christmas Bazaar
- Nov. 29, 2020
- 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Phoenix Club of Anaheim: 1340 Sanderson Ave., Anaheim CA
- A traditional German Christkindlmarkt at the Phoenix Club in Orange County. Arts and crafts vendors will be available for your shopping pleasure in the Fest Tent. If you’re looking to try traditional German food or have a need to shop where you can enjoy a beer garden, this is the craft fair you’ve been waiting for!
Flying Miz Daisy Outdoor Vintage Market
OC Fair & Event Center – Lot D
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
$7 for parking
Orange County’s premier Outdoor Vintage Market features more than 150 vendors offering vintage, antique, repurposed, European, farmhouse, industrial and hand-crafted artisan goods.
Nutcracker Craft Boutique
- Cancelled for 2020
- Brea Community Center, 695 Madison Way, Brea CA
- $2 admission fee (kids 12 and under are free), and all proceeds go to support the center’s youth and family programs.
- Over 250 vendors displaying handicrafts, holiday gifts, food and collectibles.
- Stop for lunch in Food Alley.
- Sorry, no strollers are allowed.
- Babysitting is available at $2.50/hour through Kidwatch.
Sugar Plum Arts & Crafts Festivals
- December 2 – 6, 2020
- Buena Park Downtown: 8320 On The Mall, Buena Park
- This craft fair specializes in handcrafted art, holiday crafts and accessories, including magical accessories for your garden.
Village Christmas Craft Fair
- Postponed for 2020
- Village Bible Church, 126 Buaro St., Garden Grove, CA
- Free admission and free parking.
- Over 40 vendors will be displaying their unique handmade items – woodcraft, jewelry, toys and more – and there’s live music from 11 AM to 2 PM. Every attendee gets a free raffle ticket, and raffles are called every 20 minutes. Hot lunch is available for purchase, and the youth group will even wash your car at their car wash fundraiser!
RC Palmer Arts & Crafts Show
- December 6, 13, & 20
- 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Old World Village: 7561 Center Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA
Christmas Market at Old World
- December 6, 12, 13, 19, 20
- Saturdays (2pm-8pm) & Sundays (12pm-6pm)
- Old World Village: 7561 Center Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA
- A Christmas fair located in Huntington Beach, you’ll find handmade gifts, clothing, fun, baked goodies, and Glogg.
Holiday Faire
- November 2020
- Irvine Fine Arts Center, 14321 Yale, Irvine CA
- More than 100 artists selling holiday decorations, handblown glass, ceramics, jewelry and more. Come for the holiday music, stay for the shopping!
Sawdust Outdoor Marketplace
- Weekends through December 20, 2020
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA
- Over 70 artists and makers bring the Christmas spirit at the famous Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach.
- Tickets required for entry
- Admission fees apply (adults – $5, Free for 12 and under, but a ticket is required for capacity purposes)
Christmas Town 2020 Craft Boutique
- Refuge Calvary Chapel Huntington Beach
- December 12, 2020
- 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- 7800 Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival
- Postponed
- Downtown Santa Ana –ARTISTS VILLAGE – 2ND @ SYCAMORE
- This is a free biannual event held in Santa Ana with over 150 vendors selling art, crafts, small businesses, food and music vendors. Vendors are selected by jury to ensure quality. Entertainment and food trucks are strategically placed throughout the venue for shoppers’ convenience.
- Happens rain or shine.
Annual Holiday Artisan Faire
- December 5 – 6, 2020
- 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Chemers Gallery, 17300 17th Street, Tustin CA
- Shop for all kinds of art, from the wearable to the edible, at this holiday fair. Handcrafted jewelry, wearable fiber, ceramics, vegan chocolates, artisan roasted coffee, local honey, and more.
Holiday Pop Up Market
- Studio Vintage Rental
- 20331 Lake Forest Dr. #C12, Lake Forest, CA 92630
- December 6, 2020
- 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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Kelly Smith is a freelance writer living in Southern California with one dog, two cats, two guinea pigs… and the rest of her family. She writes about Orange County, faith, family, special needs and tea, and world-builds science fiction universes on the side. Find her at www.bluerosecopywriting.com.
