Ah, holiday shopping. Whether you've been making itemized spreadsheets of friends and family members' tastes and needs since August or you belong to the school of "Oh shit, I better see if there are any bulk candy canes left at Walgreens," there's always something stressful about standing in a crowded store, staring down that list of names while endless Christmas music plays on a loop and cranky children have meltdowns in the aisles around you.
Your best bet? Avoid the mall entirely. Luckily, the Bay Area is jam-packed with craft fairs and pop-up markets this time of year, allowing you to support local artists and find a unique piece of art/jewelry/keepsake even Aunt Edna will like.
SF Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium
Like shopping Etsy online, only you get to (have to?) interact with real people — among them, Etsy employees and their artsy friends. This market promises more than 200 local artisans and "small-batch food vendors," all taking over Pier 35 at the Embarcadero.
11 a.m.- 5 p.m., Nov. 29-30, sfetsy.blogspot.com
El Mercado
This foodie-friendly market from the folks at La Cocina, in partnership with Noise Pop and Do415, brings together local artisans and street food vendors for a holiday extravaganza at Ghirardelli Square. It runs all weekend, but Friday night — "O, Mole Night" — sounds like the winner, with local big-name chefs cooking up every variety of the Mexican dish imaginable.
Times vary, Dec. 5-7, elmercadosf.com
West Coast Craft
If you're shopping for snowed-in relatives who need a jolt of sunshine, you'll find it here, at the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason. WCC is an annual showcase of designers, artists, and craftspeople "inspired by the mood and aesthetics of the West Coast lifestyle." So, really beautiful boxes to store your weed in? Probably in abundance.
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 6-7, westcoastcraft.com
SFMade Holiday Gift Fair
This holiday tradition, full of fierce local pride in its fourth year, just keeps growing. DIY workshops, games, and demos complement tables upon tables of handmade crafts from more than 40 different local makers each day, all taking over the Fleet Room at the Fort Mason Center for a weekend.
11 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 13-14, sfmade.org
Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair
Per tradition, starting Dec. 13 and continuing through Christmas Eve, every weekend day (and some last-minute weekdays) will see Telegraph Avenue closed to cars between Dwight and Bancroft, while vendors come out to sell clothes, crafts, jewelry, household wares, soaps, candles, you name it. If you don't mind your clothes smelling a bit like incense for the rest of the day, this is smart one-stop shopping.
11 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 13, 14, 20, 21, 23, 24, telegraphfair.com
Misfit Toy Factory
If you like to see how the sausage — er, fine art — gets made, this is the market for you. This fourth annual "live artmaking" event, brought to you by the arts organization Root Division, will see more than 40 artists making one-of-a-kind sculptures, toys, and other gifts on the spot at the nonprofit's gallery space on one night only. Best of all? Everything made will be sold for just $40.
6:30 p.m. Dec. 13, rootdivision.org
KPFA Crafts Fair
The best way we can think of to support public radio and local artists at the same time, the KPFA Crafts Fair brings more than 200 jury-selected local designers and craftspeople together for one weekend. After 20 years in S.F., this year's event returns to the East Bay, taking over the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond with ceramics, beadwork, paper goods, and more.
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 20-21, kpfa.org/craftsfair