Happy Holidaying to all of you. We say there is no better way to gift someone than with something personal and locally made. We have some suggestions for you – for pets, gals and guys. Holiday Markets are also a great way to support our local economy, we love a good small business gathering. Get “lit” this season, the natural way with glowing light installations that will light up your soul as well as the night skies.   Have a beautiful holiday season and we will be back in 2026 to bring you more from the Best of the Bay!

Shop Local

There’s no better time to support local makers, designers, and shops than at the holidays. Shopping local just feels good! Supporting small businesses is where we should focus on spending our dollars this season IMHO.  Here are a few local finds we hope you enjoy!

The Foggy Dog is for the stylish Bay Area pup. From personalized bandanas and bows (seasonal or otherwise) to leashes, harnesses, beds, and toys, this shop has everything a dog could dream of in prints and fabrics that you will love, too.  Shop online at thefoggydog.com

For the spirit lover, Brucato Spirits‘ newest amaro bottling, Fields ($45), is a blend of artichoke leaf, red beet, rhubarb root, fenugreek seed, dill weed, and coriander macerated in California grape brandy and aged in toasted oak barrels. Bitter in the best possible way, drink it straight, over ice, or in a cocktail.  Shop in house at Bar Brucato, 275 S. Van Ness Ave. (Mission) or online at brucatospirits.com

Part of the beautiful and extensive Wildsam Field Guide series, Big Trees of California ($24) will take those who love adventure on a greenery-filled journey through the state’s most majestic parks. Stories, interviews, and itineraries are all included in this big-tree deep dive, with an emphasis on ecology and geography. The 4 x 6.5-inch book, printed in the U.S., is small enough to fit into a back pocket.  shop.wildsam.com.

Buying for an eco-conscious, fashion-obsessed loved one? Cozy up to a Reimagined Blanket ($350–$1250) from When Simon Met Ralph. Each hand-felted piece is a one-of-a-kind that starts with a sourced blanket transformed with sustainable garments and/or fragments of clothing worked into the design. You can’t get much warmer—or chicer—than with these fashion-meets-function pieces.  whensimonmetralph.com; some pieces are available in store at The Gardener: 836 Fourth St. (Berkeley)

Responsibly made of 100 percent vegetable-tanned leather in Oaktown, the Mini Loop Bag ($248) from Harper the Label is sure to send her over the (half) moon. The unlined, buttery beauty comes in a range of delicious neutral shades that can be worn multiple ways, with anything, anywhere. We’re partial to the new limited-edition dusk color, a serene, lavender-ish ode to Karl the Fog.  harperthelabel.com.

Even for non-cooks, the Fruit Spreads and Caramel Sauces ($16-17.95) from our own local “sweet queen,” chef Emily Luchetti, are pastry chef magic in a jar. Comforting and unexpected, they come in flavors like blood orange caramel and apricot spread, and Luchetti’s website offers tons of recipes and suggested uses for each.  sweetqueenllc.com

Fashion designer and creative director Peter Som may live in NYC, but his culinary touchstones are in Mill Valley, where he grew up, and San Francisco, where he shopped and dined out with his grandparents. His new cookbook, Family Style ($40), features deliciously nostalgic Bay Area dishes like Mike’s Chinese Chicken Salad along with modern creations such as Burnt Miso Cinnamon Toast that are pure genius. Shop in store at Book Passage, 1 Ferry Bldg (Embarcadero) and 51 Tamal Vista Blvd. (Corte Madera), or online at bookpassage.com

Our Favorite Holiday Markets

Here are some of our favorite markets, included a few new ones we discovered this year.

Missing Italy? (I am). Shop at  Mercatino di Natale 2025, a beloved Italian Christmas Market that takes place on December 6th from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on December 7th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. These two festive days filled with the charm, flavors, and artistry of an authentic Italian holiday market.  Enjoy Italian food, wine, and olive oil; exquisite Murano glass; beautifully crafted handmade products; adorable baby clothing and toys; delicious gelato and freshly baked goods; as well as inspiring art and photography. It’s the perfect opportunity to find meaningful holiday gifts while  supporting artisans and the Museo’s mission. December 6 – 7 from 10 – 5. Fort Mason Center. MERCATINO di NATALE

This holiday season, SFMade is hosting their first-ever Holiday Pop-Up Store: a 3-week retail destination at Two Embarcadero Center showcasing the incredible products made by our members right here in San Francisco! December 2nd to 20th, they will be transforming a storefront into a curated shopping experience where community members and visitors can discover and purchase locally made goods throughout the holiday season. You can expect to find products that span home & garden, clothing & accessories, food & beverage, etc. Dec.2 – 20^. SFMADE POP UP

Get your walking shoes ready and head to The Crucible, a 56,000 square foot warehouse in West Oakland. Discover 50+ local artisans and makers, enjoy hands on activities and live demonstrations, and shop for one of a kind gifts. Plus, savor food and drinks, and take advantage of exclusive class discounts all weekend long. The Crucible is the nation’s largest nonprofit industrial arts education center, where students of all ages and abilities explore blacksmithing, welding, glassblowing, ceramics, metalworking, and more. Within its 56,000 sq. ft. facility, it hosts classes for adults and youth, plus group workshops and corporate team builds. GIFTY IN OAKLAND

The Best Light Shows

Light shows always make us glow and the San Francisco Botanical Garden will transform into a glowing after-dark wonderland this winter with Lightscape, an immersive holiday light and music trail that has wowed crowds in London, Chicago, Melbourne, and New York. Now through January 4, 2026, visitors can wander a one-mile path with more than one million twinkling lights, tunnels of color, lantern trees, glowing sculptures, and water features. The trail is custom designed for San Francisco and will also feature festive food and drinks, including hot chocolate to enjoy along the walk. This one-of-a-kind experience highlights the Botanical Garden’s 55-acre winter landscape through a kaleidoscope of color, light, and sound. Visitors can gather with family and friends and take in dazzling displays like the Cathedral of Light, the Singing Tree, and the Meadow of Light.  sfbotanicalgarden

Brace yourself for brilliance as Let’s Glow SF, the nation’s largest free holiday projection arts festival, is making a triumphant return to downtown San Francisco for its fifth and grandest year yet. This glittering event runs for 10 nights from December 5–14, 2025.  Breathtaking animated projections illuminating eight iconic buildings across the city’s core will transforming them into colossal, colorful canvases featuring work by 19 artists from around the globe. It’s the ultimate convergence of technology and art, and it’s an unforgettable celebration of creativity, community, and the holiday spirit.

One of our favorite glowing events takes place at historic Filoli in Woodside.  Filoli transforms 16 acres of formal gardens into an immersive Night Garden—a dazzling landscape of twinkling lights, shimmering reflections, and radiant color. Stroll beneath illuminated trees, step into a magical tunnel of lights, and explore gardens that glow with festive brilliance. End the evening fireside with mulled wine, handcrafted cocktails, and seasonal treats, as music and holiday cheer fill the crisp night air. From romantic walks to joyful gatherings, Holiday Lights at Filoli is where winter nights truly shine. HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT FILOLI