Okay, okay, it’s time to talk about the holidays in Long Beach. I haven’t been ready but my neighbors just put up their old school big-bulb Christmas lights (they call them “vintage” now!) so I guess I gotta get into it. So let’s have a real conversation.
Every December the “Buy Now” button gets a serious workout, and a giant warehouse somewhere ships you the same gift 40,000 other people are unwrapping that morning.
Here’s the thing nobody says out loud: the billionaire at the top of that warehouse does not need your holiday money. He’s fine. He’s got yachts with smaller yachts inside them. Your $40 is not going to change his December.
But you know whose December it will change? The Long Beach mom who makes candles in her kitchen after the kids go to bed. She’s paying for school clothes with those candles. She’s the one who sponsored your kid’s Little League team. She’s the one who donated the gift basket to the school raffle. And she’s the one out there at 8 a.m. on a Saturday picking up trash at the neighborhood cleanup. She is who we’re supporting this year. Completely.
And the holiday shopping in Long Beach is ridiculously good right now. We’ve got makers markets on the water, craft fairs with Santa and a DJ, a market where kids run their own booths, a plant fest at MOLAA and a dessert festival with actual snow. If you’re hunting for unique Christmas gifts, the good stuff isn’t stuck in a big box store off the freeway. It’s on a folding table at Marine Stadium, run by someone who lives ten minutes from you.
Below you’ll find every confirmed Long Beach holiday market for 2026, with dates, times, addresses, links, admission and what you can actually buy. But first, let’s talk about why this matters so much.
Long Beach Holiday Markets and Christmas Shopping Events for 2026
Here’s the whole season at a glance. Screenshot it, send it to the group chat, and plan your weekends.
- Sat., Nov. 21: Dreamers Markets: Merry and Bright at 2nd & PCH
- Sat., Nov. 28: Patchwork Show Makers Market at Marine Stadium (Small Business Saturday!)
- Sat.–Sun., Nov. 28–29: The 908 Holiday Fair at Sports Basement
- Fri., Dec. 4: Uptown Village Holiday Market at Expo Arts Center
- Sat., Dec. 5: Christmas in Candyland by Simply Crafted Market at LBX
- Sun., Dec. 6: The Connection Market: A Winter Wonderland Experience at The Loft
- Sat., Dec. 12: Little Makers Holiday Village Kids Market at LBX
- Sat., Dec. 19: Long Beach Plant Fest Holiday Edition at MOLAA
- Sat., Dec. 19: Long Beach Sugar & Spice Holiday Dessert Festival at LBCC
- Sun., Dec. 20: Dreamers Markets: Mele Kelikimaka at 2nd & PCH
Bonus: the Westside Night Market on Fri., Nov. 20, kicks things off early. Details at the bottom.
Why Shop Small in Long Beach This Christmas? All the Reasons
1. Your money actually stays here. Economists call it the local multiplier effect. Across a decade of studies, nearly half of every dollar spent at an independent local business got recirculated in the community, compared to less than 14% at chain stores. That money pays local wages, buys from other local businesses and gets spent at the taco spot down the street. Big-box profits are not coming back to Bixby Knolls.
2. The billionaire is fine. Your neighbor is not. When you support local businesses, you’re paying a Long Beach family’s rent, not funding another rocket launch. You’re keeping a barista, a jeweler, a ceramicist or a single mom with a candle business in business for one more year.
3. Small businesses are the ones who show up for Long Beach. Who sponsors the Little League jerseys? Who donates the raffle basket for the school fundraiser? Who puts the cleanup flyer in the window and then shows up with gloves and trash bags? Not a corporation with a headquarters 1,000 miles away. Local owners give back locally, and they need us to show up for them too.
4. The holidays can make or break their whole year. This one’s personal. We’ve watched beloved Long Beach spots close their doors this year. For a lot of small businesses, a strong holiday season is what keeps the lights on into January. Your shopping list is a vote for which businesses are still here next December.
5. Nobody else will have the same gift. Handmade Christmas gifts are the opposite of a duplicate return. Artisan jewelry, small-batch candles, handmade ceramics, local art and vintage finds. You get one-of-a-kind gifts for the people who “have everything,” and stocking stuffers that don’t come in a 12-pack.
6. Every gift comes with a story. “I found this at a holiday market at 2nd & PCH, and the woman who made it told me where she sources her clay” beats “it came in a box” every single time.
7. It keeps Long Beach unique, wonderful and ours. Retro Row, Bixby Knolls, Belmont Shore, the Westside. Our neighborhoods have personality because of the people who own the shops in them. Chains make every city look the same. Gifts from local makers make Long Beach look like Long Beach.
8. You get real customer service from a real human. Ask the maker if it comes in another color. Request a custom engraving. Get wrapping advice from the person who designed the thing. Try getting that from a chatbot.
9. It’s better for the planet. Fewer cross-country shipments, fewer delivery vans idling on your block and way less plastic packaging headed for the landfill. Plenty of local vendors sell vintage and secondhand finds too, so you can check “sustainable gifts” off the list.
10. You’re backing entrepreneurs at every stage. Women-owned, family-owned, immigrant-owned, first-time makers and even kid entrepreneurs (yes, there’s a whole kids market at LBX). Small business holiday shopping helps the next generation of Long Beach business owners get started.
11. It’s a lot more fun than scrolling. Christmas markets with Santa, live music, food trucks, face painting, photo booths and scavenger hunts. Most of these markets are free and family-friendly, and some are dog-friendly. It’s a festive day out that happens to get your shopping done.
12. Long Beach is worth the drive. Coming from LA or Orange County? We see you. Long Beach sits right in the middle of the best Christmas markets in Southern California. Make a day of it: shop a market, grab lunch in the neighborhood and catch the sunset on the water.
Holiday Pop-Up Markets and Craft Fairs Around Long Beach
Listed in date order, so you can start at the top and shop your way to Christmas.
1. Dreamers Markets: Merry and Bright
- When: Saturday, Nov. 21, noon to 6 p.m.
- Where: 2nd & PCH, 6480 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
- Admission: Free. Family- and dog-friendly.
An outdoor, holiday-themed makers market to kick off the season. Shop handmade gifts, jewelry, candles, vintage pieces, plants and artisan goods, all in the open air. Bring the pup.
Make a day of it: You’re right at the end of 2nd Street, so stroll Belmont Shore for lunch or wander over to the Naples canals.
2. Patchwork Show Makers Market
- When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Marine Stadium, 490 Bay Shore Ave.
- Admission: Free. Family- and pet-friendly.
This is the big one, and it lands on Small Business Saturday. Patchwork brings a huge waterfront lineup of independent artists and makers, plus live music, food trucks, free DIY activities and a new scavenger hunt this year. If you only hit one market, make it this one.
Make a day of it: Grab a coffee on 2nd Street, then catch the sunset over the water.
3. The 908 Holiday Fair
- When: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 28–29, noon to 5 p.m.
- Where: Sports Basement Long Beach, 2100 N. Bellflower Blvd.
- Admission: Free.
Hosted by LB908 Magazine, this two-day indoor fair turns the upstairs event space at Sports Basement into East Long Beach’s big holiday market. Expect a large small-business gift market, local school choirs and musicians, Santa photos, holiday crafts and festive drinks. Rain or shine, you’re covered.
Make a day of it: Pair it with Patchwork on Saturday for a full Small Business Saturday shopping run.
4. Uptown Village Holiday Market
- When: Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 10 p.m.
- Where: Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave.
- Admission: Free. Family-friendly.
A nighttime market during Bixby Knolls First Fridays, with indoor and outdoor shopping. Browse jewelry, pottery, art, clothing, bath products, home goods and pet accessories while live music plays.
Make a day of it: First Fridays means the whole Atlantic Avenue strip is buzzing. Shop, then grab dinner and a drink along the boulevard.
5. Christmas in Candyland by Simply Crafted Market
- When: Saturday, Dec. 5, noon to 5 p.m.
- Where: The Hangar at LBX, 4150 McGowen St.
- Admission: Free
Simply Crafted is going full Candyland this year, with local artisans and handcrafted gifts in a sugar-coated holiday setting. The venue has confirmed the event, and more details are on the way.
Make a day of it: The Hangar is a food hall, so lunch is handled.
6. The Connection Market: A Winter Wonderland Experience
- When: Sunday, Dec. 6, noon to 5 p.m.
- Where: THE LOFT, 3290 Cherry Ave.
- Admission: $10 for adults and teens 13+ in advance, $5 for ages 5–12, free under 5. Prices are higher at the door, so grab tickets on Eventbrite. Free parking.
Organized by The Connection Strategist, this one is a whole experience: 20 local vendors, Soulful Santa, a DJ, a photo booth, face painting, hourly giveaways and holiday refreshments. Bring the kids and get the Santa photo out of the way while you shop.
7. Little Makers Holiday Village Kids Market
- When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: The Hangar at LBX, 4150 McGowen St.
- Admission: Free
Okay, this one makes our hearts explode. Kids run their own small-business booths, from making the product to handling the sale. Buy a bracelet from a 9-year-old CEO and watch her light up. These are Long Beach’s future business owners, and this is where they get their start.
8. Long Beach Plant Fest: Holiday Edition
- When: Saturday, Dec. 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), 628 Alamitos Ave.
For the plant people on your list. The holiday edition of this plant-focused marketplace is full of living gifts, greenery and plant-related finds. A potted plant is a gift that literally keeps growing.
Make a day of it: You’re minutes from downtown and the East Village, so make a museum-and-lunch afternoon of it.
9. Long Beach Sugar & Spice Holiday Dessert Festival
- When: Saturday, Dec. 19, 1 to 9 p.m.
- Where: Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus, 1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
A brand-new holiday festival with artisan vendors, shopping, Santa, snow experiences, music, seasonal treats and a holiday donation drive. Yes, it’s more about dessert than the others. No, we’re not mad about it. Shop, eat something sweet and bring a donation.
10. Dreamers Markets: Mele Kelikimaka
- When: Sunday, Dec. 20. Check Dreamers Markets for times.
- Where: 2nd & PCH, 6480 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
- Admission: Free.
Procrastinators, this one’s for you. Dreamers Markets is back at 2nd & PCH just five days before Christmas, with plenty of last-minute local gifts. No excuses now.
Where to Find Unique Christmas Gifts in Long Beach
Got a list and no clue where to start? Here’s where to find what, so you can shop with a plan (or at least pretend to).
- Handmade and artisan jewelry: The Connection Market, Dreamers Markets and Uptown Village Holiday Market
- Handmade candles and home goods: The Connection Market, Dreamers Markets and Uptown Village Holiday Market
- Locally made art and handmade ceramics: Patchwork and Uptown Village Holiday Market (pottery and art)
- Vintage and sustainable gifts: Dreamers Markets
- Self-care gifts and bath products: Uptown Village Holiday Market
- Gifts for the pet lover: Uptown Village Holiday Market (pet accessories)
- Living gifts for the plant obsessed: Long Beach Plant Fest at MOLAA and Dreamers Markets
- Affordable stocking stuffers: Little Makers Kids Market (kid-made and kid-priced)
- Sweet treats and edible gifts: Sugar & Spice Holiday Dessert Festival
Pro tip: bring cash and a reusable tote. Plenty of makers take cards, but cash makes the line move faster and some booths love it.
Free and Family-Friendly Holiday Markets
Good news for your wallet: almost every market on this list is free to attend. Save your money for the gifts.
- Free admission: Dreamers Markets (both dates), Patchwork Show, the 908 Holiday Fair and Uptown Village Holiday Market
- Christmas markets with Santa: The 908 Holiday Fair (Santa photos), The Connection Market (Soulful Santa) and Sugar & Spice (Santa plus snow)
- Best for kids: Patchwork (free DIY activities and a scavenger hunt), The Connection Market (face painting and a photo booth) and Little Makers Kids Market
- Bring the dog: Dreamers Markets: Merry and Bright and Patchwork Show
- Rainy-day backup: The Connection Market and 908 Holiday Fair are fully indoors, and Uptown Village has indoor shopping too
These are the free holiday events that double as a festive family outing. Shopping gets done, the kids get Santa, and everybody goes home happy.
Bonus: Westside Night Market
- When: Friday, Nov. 20, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Where: Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave.
It’s not officially a holiday market, but it’s the perfect way to shop local in Long Beach before the season kicks off. Expect handmade goods, local vendors, music and Westside neighborhood businesses. Get a head start on your list and support the Westside while you’re at it.
Why Shopping Small Makes the Holidays More Meaningful
So this year, let the billionaire sit this one out. Shop the markets. Meet the makers. Bring home gifts with a story. And when you find something amazing, tag @lbcvibe so we can show your favorite local makers some love.
We’ll keep this guide updated as more Long Beach holiday markets confirm their dates. Bookmark it, share it, and check our events calendar for even more Christmas events in Long Beach.
Long Beach Holiday Markets FAQ
What’s the biggest holiday market in Long Beach in 2026? The Patchwork Show Makers Market at Marine Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 28, is one of the largest, with a big waterfront lineup of makers, live music and food trucks. It’s free.
Are Long Beach holiday markets free? Most are. Dreamers Markets, Patchwork, the 908 Holiday Fair and Uptown Village Holiday Market are all free to attend. The Connection Market charges admission ($10 adults in advance, $5 kids 5–12, free under 5).
Which Long Beach Christmas markets have Santa? The 908 Holiday Fair, The Connection Market and the Sugar & Spice Holiday Dessert Festival all have Santa on site.
When is Small Business Saturday 2026? Saturday, Nov. 28. Hit Patchwork at Marine Stadium and the 908 Holiday Fair at Sports Basement on the same day.
Where can I find last-minute Christmas gifts in Long Beach? Dreamers Markets: Mele Kelikimaka at 2nd & PCH on Sunday, Dec. 20, plus Plant Fest at MOLAA and Sugar & Spice at LBCC on Saturday, Dec. 19.
