San Francisco Christmas Markets – my favorite ones in the city and around! San Francisco may not have snowy rooftops or cobblestone streets. Still, every December the city finds its own way to feel festive — through glowing lights, cozy pop-ups, handmade crafts, and holiday markets that bring together artists, bakers, makers, and entire creative communities.
Find below a list of my favorite places to get into the holiday spirit and also do some festive shopping in San Francisco:
Last updated: October 2026.
San Francisco Christmas Markets 2026 at a Glance
| Christmas Market | Date & Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Mercatino di Natale |
Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. · Dec. 6, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Museo Italo Americano, Fort Mason |
|
Swedish Christmas Fair |
Dec. 5 · 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | St. Mary’s Cathedral |
|
Fairmont Winter Rooftop Faire |
Nov. 27–29 & Dec. 18–20 · 12–5 p.m. | Fairmont San Francisco, Nob Hill |
|
Sunset Holiday Mercantile |
Dec. 5–6 · 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | SF County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park |
|
SFMOMA Holiday Makers Market |
2026 dates to be announced | SFMOMA |
|
Ghirardelli Square Holiday Market |
2026 dates to be announced | Ghirardelli Square |
|
Mill Valley Holiday Craft Fair |
Dec. 5 · 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Mill Valley Community Center |
|
Mill Valley Winterfest & Tree Lighting |
Dec. 6 · 1–4 p.m. | Mill Valley Depot Plaza |
|
Bay Street Holiday Pop & Shop |
2026 dates to be announced | Bay Street Emeryville |
|
Gamble Garden Winter Festival |
Dec. 3–5 | Gamble Garden, Palo Alto |
|
Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair |
Dec. 12–13, 19–20 & 23–24 · 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley |
|
Gardens Aglow Night Market |
2026 dates to be announced | Sonoma Botanical Garden |
|
German Holiday Market |
Dec. 12 · 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | City Hall Plaza, Mountain View |
Christmas Markets in San Francisco
1. Mercatino di Natale (Italian Christmas Market)
Two festive days filled with the charm, flavors, and artistry of an authentic Italian holiday market. Visitors will enjoy Italian food, wine, and olive oil, exquisite Murano glass, beautifully crafted handmade products, baby clothing and toys, delicious gelato and freshly baked goods, and inspiring art and photography.
When: December 5 – 6, 2026 • 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Museo Italo Americano, Fort Mason
2. Swedish Christmas Fair
A Scandinavian holiday celebration with Lucia processions, Nordic food, handmade crafts, and minimalist holiday decor. Enjoy the smell of glögg and gingerbread and the taste of shrimp sandwiches, waffles, or a hot dog with a bun. Find Swedish books, traditional crafts, jewelry, clothes, and Swedish gifts.
When: December 5, 2026 • 9 am – 3 pm
Where: St. Mary’s Cathedral
3. Fairmont Holiday Rooftop Faire
This winter, local artisans will be part of a brand-new holiday experience: the Fairmont Holiday Rooftop Faire, in the quaint gardens of the legendary Fairmont San Francisco. This unique open-air market will bring the charm of a European holiday village to Nob Hill—complete with lights, festive music, and panoramic city views.
When: November 27 – 29, 2026 & December 18 – 20, 2026 • 12 pm – 5 pm
Where: Fairmont Hotel
4. Sunset Holiday Mercantile
Come eat, drink, shop, play, connect, and be local at the 10th Annual Sunset Holiday Mercantile at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park! There will be 50+ local makers, merchants, artists, and vendors, food trucks, a holiday-themed photo booth, and children and family activities.
When: December 5 – 6, 2026 • 11 am – 5 pm
Where: San Francisco County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park
5. SFMOMA Holiday Makers Market
Looking to support local artists and find gifts that are not mass-produced? Wrap up your holiday shopping or find something special for yourself at this one-day-only event! Meet and support twenty diverse Bay Area makers and find something for every aesthetic, including jewelry, ceramics, accessories, art prints, aromatherapy products, watercolor art kits, and more! The event is free, and museum admission is not required.
When: 2026 dates to be announced
Where: SFMOMA
6. Ghirardelli Square Holiday Market
Come for an enchanting evening of holiday cheer! Explore handcrafted goods from local artisans, enjoy live entertainment, snap a photo with Santa, and get creative with complimentary ornament-making.
When: 2026 dates to be announced
Where: Ghirardelli Square
North Bay & Marin Holiday Markets
1. Mill Valley Holiday Craft Fair
A cozy, community-centered craft fair with handmade arts and gifts: ceramics, jewelry, fiber art, woodwork, plants, holiday decor, and more.
When: December 5, 2026 • 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Mill Valley Community Center
2. Mill Valley Winterfest & Tree Lighting
Not exactly a market — but a beautifully festive local celebration with live music, kids’ activities, a holiday train, and a big tree lighting.
When: December 6, 2026, 1 pm – 4 pm
Where: Mill Valley Depot Plaza
Bay Area Holiday Markets
1. Bay Street Holiday Pop & Shop (Emeryville)
A festive outdoor market featuring handmade crafts, unique gifts, jewelry, plants, and delicious specialty food items from local artisans. Enjoy live music, community performances, kids’ activities, and magical photo ops.
When: 2026 dates to be announced
Where: Bay Street Emeryville
2. Gamble Garden Winter Festival (Palo Alto)
Get the holidays started at the Winter Festival Marketplace! Enjoy one-stop shopping for holiday gifts, greenery, and décor in the festive Gamble Garden atmosphere. All ages welcome! Free admission for children ages 12 and under.
When: December 3 – 5, 2026
Where: Gamble Garden, Palo Alto
3. Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair (Berkeley)
One of the Bay Area’s biggest artisan fairs — long rows of handmade goods, crafts, art, soaps, woodwork, jewelry, and gifts. Holiday shoppers will be treated to an abundance of good cheer, great music, fine food, with unique and unusual handcrafts by some of Northern California’s finest artists.
When: December 12 – 13, 19 – 20, 23 – 24, 2026 • 11 am – 6 pm
Where: Telegraph Avenue between Bancroft and Dwight
Gardens Aglow Night Market (Sonoma Botanical Garden)
This holiday season, the Garden becomes a twilight wonderland for three weekends in December where twinkling paths set the stage for Gardens Aglow, a merry and bright celebration for the whole family. After the sun sets, the magic begins. Stroll through a dazzling tunnel of light to arrive at the Garden’s Winter Workshop, brimming with festive crafts for all ages, music that fills the evening air with cheer, lawn games, face painting, and more.
When: 2026 dates to be announced
Where: Sonoma Botanical Garden
5. German Holiday Market (Mountain View)
A traditional German Weihnachtsmarkt in the heart of the Peninsula – Glühwein, sausages, Lebkuchen, nutcrackers, crafts, and live music.
When: December 12, 2026 • 11 am – 9 pm
Where: City Hall Plaza, Mountain View
If you’re planning your festive outings this year, I hope this guide helps you find a few markets you’ll love. Whether you stay in the city or wander into Marin, the Peninsula, or the East Bay, these holiday markets are a wonderful way to celebrate the season — and to support the makers who bring so much creativity to the Bay Area every December.
Save this list for your December plans, and let me know which ones you end up exploring.
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