Holiday markets in Los Angeles for finding the perfect present

The city of West Hollywood is once again throwing its hat into the outdoor ice-skating scene by transforming West Hollywood Park into a rink and a Winter Village with photo ops and a general store, where you can buy snacks and hot chocolate. Schedule your visit around a handful of theme nights: For the rink’s first weekend open, you can shop a festive outdoor market featuring local artists and vendors December 6 and 7 (11am–5pm). A 90-minute skating session will cost you $22. 

Every Sunday, you can find dozens of food vendors at Smorgasburg, a Brooklyn import that boasts a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars at ROW DTLA. And on November 30, “Smorg for the Holidays” kicks off, with a holiday market and guest vendors setting up in the shopping aisle through December 21. After retail therapy, refuel with tasty holiday specials from Smorgasburg vendors, and be sure to snap a photo with Santa and Rudolph. Entry and the first two hours of parking are free.

Spoil your furry best friend and the animal lovers in your life at this free market at the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. The posh Playa Vista shelter will be peddling purr-fectly pet-friendly accessories and treats from more than a dozen vendors. Enjoy complimentary cookies, hot cocoa and coffee while you shop, and don’t forget to snap a pet portrait with Santa.

If you’re making a list and checking it twice, consider Craft Contemporary’s annual holiday marketplace for unique handmade gifts and an opportunity to buy directly from the emerging and established L.A. makers behind them, chosen for their top-notch design and craftsmanship. If you want dibs on the most in-demand options, check out the ticketed preview on Friday evening, with refreshments, music and gift bags. Otherwise, stop by the museum over the weekend to check out the latest exhibitions and shop. There are even some workshops where you can tap into your own craftiness: Make 3-D paper snowflakes on Saturday or finger puppets on Sunday—both free—or craft your own holiday centerpiece using greens and florals (12:30pm, $65).

For timeless Christmas gifts with a side of preppy style, Ralph Lauren is popping up at 8495 Melrose Avenue with an immersive installation that will combine the brand’s signature style with some holiday magic. Stop by to step into the world of Ralph Lauren, with vintage holiday sweaters and denim for sale, plus complimentary embroidery and hand-painting customization. The one-stop holiday shop also includes a coffee truck with festive beverages and even a Christmas tree farm, with evergreens straight from Oregon (proceeds benefit the brand’s cancer prevention center). Kids can keep entertained with live music from a children’s choir, face painting and more. 

If you’re on the hunt for artistic gifts but don’t know your way around a lump of clay, you’re in luck. BIPOC-owned pottery studio POT is back with its eighth annual holiday market, with giftable handcrafted wares from over 50 local vendors. There’s more than just ceramics for sale, though—you’ll also find books, plants, home essentials, accessories, clothing and more. And the best part: POT has provided an exclusive code for Time Out readers to use for complimentary entry to the market (which is normally $9). Enter “TimeOutHoliday” at checkout for a free ticket that will also give you access to free beer from Boomtown Brewery, kids’ activities, ornament making, snacks, coffee and more. Note: POT had to close its Echo Park studio earlier this year, so you’ll find all the action at its Jefferson Boulevard location.

Calling all vintage lovers! Shop one-of-a-kind pieces from over 50 of the top local and national vintage retailers and private dealers at this pop-up market. A Current Affair is a major source for stylists, designers and anyone in search of everything from perfectly worn-in jeans to rare and collectible designer pieces. Shop an array of vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry dating all the way back to the Victorian era at the pop-up market’s West Hollywood Design District location.

Pasadena’s South Lake Avenue transforms for the holidays during this beloved free celebration that attracts thousands of visitors each year. You’ll find free photos with Santa at Macy’s (401 S Lake Ave), a holiday artisan market and cookie decorating at the Commons (140 S Lake Ave) and ornament making at Pasarroyo (251 S Lake Ave). Businesses along the street—from Erewhon to Pie ‘N Burger to Sanrio—will be offering special promotions, and starting at 1pm, three local bands will provide a diverse soundtrack of live music while you shop. Carolers in costume will also be roaming the avenue, as well as holiday characters including Olaf, the Grinch, Frosty the Snowman and Snoopy.

One of the best small-business shopping events in the country, the biannual Unique Los Angeles features clothes, accessories, wellness products, art pieces and artisanal foods from over 75 local brands. Rub elbows with the different designers and artists showcasing their work, take free holiday portraits in the Oh Snap! photo booth, and visit the DIY Den to make your own gift charms and ornaments. Unique Los Angeles is the perfect place to find, well, unique gifts for those on your list. Ticket proceeds will go to their new nonprofit, Unique World, which provides mentorship and grants to small businesses, artists and creatives.

The outdoor Topanga theater is already pretty magical, but on December 13 it’ll turn into a winter wonderland, with carolers and singing madrigals roaming the grounds, holiday storytelling, an artisan market selling gifts and crafts, festive food and drink, and photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus. After the fair, there’s a live radio play performance of It’s a Wonderful Life starring Pamela Adlon, Beau Bridges, Wendie Malick, Joe Mantegna and Missi Pyle at 5pm—you can buy a ticket as a $25 add-on.

Melrose Trading Post is a favorite among flea-market shoppers year-round, but every Sunday in December, it’ll offer a merry twist. More than 260 local artists, makers and vintage vendors will be selling gift-worthy goods alongside live music and family-friendly holiday activities. Take your picture in the Rock ’n’ Roll Santa photo booth, get creative at an artist-led gift-making workshop, and catch performances by the Grand Arts Jazz Carolers and Little Women Ballet. And if a puppy’s on your Christmas wish list, you can adopt one on-site on December 28. Admission to MTP is usually $8, but you can get in for free December 7 and 14 if you bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Mágico Toy Drive.

Modern-day living got you down? Travel back to the Victorian era with this holiday celebration at the Arboretum, taking place over three consecutive weekends. The front lawn of the 1880s Queen Anne Cottage, which you can step inside during a walk-through tour, will host visits with Santa, Victorian dancers and carolers, themed refreshments and a marketplace. Grab a hot cocoa or hot toddy and browse goods from local makers and artists.