Get a head start on holiday shopping with a weekend full of artisan fairs. From Sacramento to San Jose, there will be plenty to choose from along the Capitol Corridor!
Arts Festival: 11/3 – 11/5, Sacramento
This weekend, Friday through Sunday, the 20th Annual Sacramento Arts Festival will take place between 10am and 6pm. Over 225 of America’s best contemporary crafts people and fine artists will be selling more than 150,000 original works. Myriad categories of arts and crafts will be represented by exhibitors, including drawings, printmaking, photography, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, wood, decorative fiber, leather, metal, stone, and two and three-dimensional mixed media. Demonstrations will allow visitors to understand the process of creation and provide them opportunities for artist meet and greets. Enjoy a variety of food items while listening to live musical entertainment. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and children under 12 are free.
Getting there: Take the train to the Sacramento Station, which is less than a mile away. For public transit connections, check out Google Maps. Capitol Corridor offers free transfers for Sacramento Regional Transit.
38Makers Holiday Gift Fair: 11/4, San Francisco
SFMade and Pinterest have combined their passions for discovery to create their first joint event featuring gift items from 38 SFMade vendors. 38Makers Holiday Gift Fair will be open Saturday between 11am and 4pm. The fair will highlight artisan, locally-made gifts, in a unique and festive setting inside the new Pinterest headquarters. Browse jewelry, coffee, gourmet gifts, wine, home and garden items, holiday cards, stationery, bags, body products, pet gear, and apparel, all made in San Francisco. Social Imprints will have a printing station and Pinterest will be serving holiday treats. The $5 donation at the door will go to SFMade and their efforts to support local manufacturers.
Getting there: Depending on your station of origin, take the train to the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station. There you can connect to BART for service into downtown San Francisco. Discount BART and Muni tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car. From downtown San Francisco, you can take Muni to Pinterest’s HQ at 651 Brannan St, San Francisco.
Patchwork Show: 11/4, Oakland
Shop for independent goods, handmade from local artisans at the Patchwork Show in Jack London Square. On Saturday from 11am to 5pm, more than 150 crafters, designers, gourmet food trucks, and live indie music performers will be featured. Celebrating the handmade movement, vendors are selected through a jury process and will feature clothing, accessories, jewelry, art, ceramics, home and garden items, pet gear, and more.
Getting there: Take the train to the Oakland Jack London Station, which is steps from the event.
Makers Market: 11/4, San Jose
Looking for unique handcrafted gifts? Then visit the curated marketplace at Makers Market in Santana Row Park. Between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, browse over 100 artisan-crafted works from some of Bay Area’s most skilled craftspeople. Their organic, ethically-produced handcrafted goods represent the best of American craftsmanship, including jewelry, handbags, ceramics, glassware, soaps, candles, and more! Explore the beautiful outdoor park while tasting food and wine. Soaps of 7 Flowers founder and floral designer, Yeun Byun, will be teaching tips and tricks on how to use fall-inspired flowers and foliage at a wreath-making workshop.
Getting there: Take the train to the San Jose-Diridon Station. From there you can walk or take a short light rail ride on the VTA’s Mountain View line with a free transfer from the Capitol Corridor or ride VTA’s free Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH). The event address is 377 Santana Row, San Jose.
Written by Sylvia Sheehan
Photo courtesy Makers Market