Los Angeles Holiday Market Guide

Los Angeles Holiday Market Guide

The holiday season tends to sneak up on Angelenos. The weather is warm and sunny through early December, there’s no sign of snow for miles, and festive holiday lights are few and far between. Many of us arrive at mid-December without that cozy holiday feeling.

But one thing Los Angeles does well this time of year is holiday markets. The city is full of talented artisans, creators, and designers whose beautiful creations make for unmatched gifts for our loved ones. Plus, the holiday markets are some of the few spots in Los Angeles where the holidays feel wintery and magical—the perfect places to spend an afternoon or evening getting into the holiday spirit.

While many holiday markets start closing by early December, there are still several markets open through Christmas Day and even into January. Keep reading for our top four holiday market recommendations.

Artists & Fleas Grand Central Market Holiday Pop-up

When: December 21-22, 11 am-6 pm

Where: Grand Central Market in Downtown LA

Artists & Fleas is a marketplace for creators to sell their artwork, designs, and collections. Usually, the market takes place every Saturday from 11 am – 4:30 pm in Venice. But this holiday season, the market is moving to downtown for a weekend. The Artists & Fleas Grand Central Market Holiday Popup will have a loose holiday atmosphere, but not every artist or creator will be selling explicitly holiday-themed items. It’s the perfect place to find a last-minute gift that’s still thoughtful and possibly even one-of-a-kind.

Winter Bazaar Holiday Night Market by Hollywood Night Market

When: December 19, 5-10 pm

Where: Yamashiro Restaurant in the Hollywood Hills

The Winter Bazaar Holiday Night Market is a craft fair and market put on by the popular Hollywood Night Market. The market features live music, seasonal cocktails, a light festival, and vendors selling unique gifts. There is also a place to take photos with Santa and a booth to drop of your gifts off to be professionally wrapped. This event combines cozy, wintery entertainment with the opportunity to shop the creations of more than 30 local artisans. And the night-time schedule makes it a fun date night for couples or night out with friends.

Holiday Market Westfield Century City

When: Now through January 5, from 10 am – 10 pm

Where: The Westfield Century City shopping mall

During the month of December, the Westfield Century City shopping mall transforms into a winter wonderland. Attractions include fake snow falls, live performances, a gift wrapping station, Santa himself, and even a 600-foot ice skating rink on the second floor. The Holiday Market Westfield Century City is perfect for families with children or grandchildren who want to experience winter magic in Southern California.

Smorgasburg Holiday Market

When: Now through December 22, Sundays from 10 am – 4pm

Where: The ROW DTLA

Smorgasburg is much-loved staple of Los Angeles foodie culture. It’s normally a food truck festival that takes place every Sunday in downtown Los Angeles. But during the month of December, Smorgasburg goes beyond food, attracting high-quality artisans from around Los Angeles to sell their unique creations. Smorgasburg Holiday Market is for you if you’re looking for handcrafted gift ideas, but you’d also love to spend an afternoon sampling some of Los Angeles’ best food.

The Los Angeles holiday markets are also a great place to take out of town relatives. Not only are they sufficiently Christmassy, but they’re also a way for you to show off what makes Los Angeles special this time of year: the local artisans, creators, and designers who offer an alternative to mass-produced holiday gifts.

Whether you are entertaining out of town guests or spending Christmas with your local family and friends, we hope you take advantage of LA’s holiday markets.