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The Peninsula has a strong craft scene for a place better known for software. Potters, glassblowers, jewelers and woodworkers work out of garages and rented studios from Redwood City to San Jose. A few times a year they set up tents and sell directly. The best of these fairs are juried, so you see serious handmade work rather than imports. Most are free to enter. Several raise money for a school, a fire brigade or an arts nonprofit.
This guide covers recurring craft and maker fairs near Palo Alto, outside the holiday season. Each entry gives the latest date we confirmed on an organizer page or in local press, the venue, how often it runs and how to get there. None had posted 2027 dates when we checked on November 2, 2026. For November and December sales, see our holiday markets guide.
The craft fair calendar
| Fair | Latest confirmed date | Where | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Valley Open Studios | May 2 to 17, 2026 (three weekends) | Studios across the Peninsula and South Bay | Each May |
| Clay and Glass Festival | July 11 and 12, 2026 | Palo Alto Art Center | Each July |
| Kings Mountain Art Fair | September 5 to 7, 2026 | Skyline Boulevard, above Woodside | Labor Day weekend |
| Great Glass Pumpkin Patch | September 26 and 27, 2026 | Palo Alto Art Center | Late September |
| Pacifica Fog Fest crafts | September 26 and 27, 2026 | Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica | Late September |
| FabMo Artisans Market | October 4, 2026 | Los Altos Community Center | Each fall |
| Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival | October 17 and 18, 2026 | Main Street, Half Moon Bay | Mid-October |
Silicon Valley Open Studios in May
The craft year starts with three weekends of open doors. Silicon Valley Open Studios invites the public into artists' workspaces, homes and galleries across the Peninsula and South Bay. In 2026, its 40th year, several hundred artists took part on May 2 and 3, May 9 and 10 and May 16 and 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, according to the Mountain View Voice's arts calendar. Admission is free.
It works best with a plan. The organizers' website at svos.org has an interactive map and a page for each artist, so pick a cluster of studios near each other and drive or bike between them. Painters, printmakers, potters and jewelers all take part. Artists are there to talk about how they work. It is the best chance all year to buy directly from the studio and see where the work is made.
Clay and Glass Festival in July
Palo Alto's own craft fair is one of the larger shows of its kind in Northern California. The Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California brings more than 130 juried artists to the lawns of the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, on a July weekend. The 2026 festival ran Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission, hourly demonstrations, a hands-on clay area and a pottery throwdown at 3:15 p.m. each day. The 2027 dates were not posted in early November. Our Clay and Glass Festival guide covers parking and buying tips.
The month after, the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts brings about 250 fine art and craft booths to University Avenue. The 2026 edition ran August 22 and 23. See our Festival of the Arts guide.
Kings Mountain Art Fair on Labor Day weekend
The most memorable setting belongs to the Kings Mountain Art Fair, held in the redwoods on Skyline Boulevard above Woodside. It is a community tradition and a benefit for Kings Mountain Elementary and the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade. The heart of the fair is the artist booths, including local "mountain artists" and others from around California. Each day starts with a breakfast before the booths open.
The 2026 fair ran Saturday to Monday, September 5 to 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m., at the Kings Mountain Community Center and Firehouse, 13889 Skyline Boulevard. Admission was free. From Palo Alto, take Woodside Road west through Woodside village, then climb Kings Mountain Road to Skyline. The fair is about 12 miles from downtown, but the last stretch is a narrow, winding road, so allow 40 minutes. The fair's website lets you preview artists. Our Woodside guide covers the village on the way up.
The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch and Pacifica in September
Great Glass Pumpkin Patch
Each fall the Art Center lawn fills with more than 10,000 handblown glass pumpkins and gourds from more than 25 artists. The 2026 patch, the 31st, ran Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry is free and a share of sales supports the Bay Area Glass Institute and the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation. Arrive at opening for the best choice. Our glass pumpkin patch guide has the details.
Pacifica Fog Fest
The same weekend, Pacifica's biggest event filled Palmetto Avenue with more than 200 arts and crafts vendors, plus a parade, live music and the Fog Jog. The 2026 Fog Fest ran September 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission, according to the Mountain View Voice. Pacifica is about 30 miles north by Interstate 280 and Highway 1. Our Pacifica guide covers the beaches nearby.
October: FabMo and the coast
FabMo Artisans Market, Los Altos
FabMo is a local nonprofit that rescues sample fabrics, tiles and other design materials from the landfill and passes them to makers. Its annual Artisans Market sells what those makers create: bags, home decor, cards, cat toys, plush creatures and wearable goods. The 2026 market was Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Avenue, with nearly 40 artisans and free entry. It is a small, friendly market about 5 miles from Palo Alto.
Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival
The coast's big October weekend is part food festival and part craft fair, with about 275 artists and makers on Main Street. The 54th festival ran October 17 and 18, 2026, with free admission. Our food festivals guide covers the pumpkin side.
Good to know
- Bring a padded tote for ceramics and glass. Palo Alto bans plastic checkout bags.
- Ask makers about care: dishwasher, microwave and oven safety vary.
- Many artists ship larger pieces or take orders after the fair. Take a card.
- Keep a hand on small children around tables of glass and pottery.
Want to make it yourself?
Several of these fairs grow out of local studios that teach. The Palo Alto Art Center runs ceramics classes. Our pottery and ceramics guide lists studios with open sessions. If you are planning a trip around the Clay and Glass Festival or Open Studios, you can compare Palo Alto hotels for the weekend.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kings Mountain Art Fair?
It is held over Labor Day weekend at the Kings Mountain Community Center and Firehouse, 13889 Skyline Boulevard, above Woodside. In 2026 it ran September 5 to 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Admission is free. It benefits Kings Mountain Elementary and the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade.
When is Silicon Valley Open Studios?
Silicon Valley Open Studios runs over three consecutive weekends in May. In 2026, its 40th year, the dates were May 2 and 3, May 9 and 10 and May 16 and 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several hundred artists opened studios, homes and galleries across the Peninsula and South Bay. It is free.
Is there a craft fair in Palo Alto?
Yes. The Clay and Glass Festival brings more than 130 juried ceramic and glass artists to the Palo Alto Art Center each July. The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch fills the same lawn in late September. Both are free to enter. The Festival of the Arts on University Avenue in August also has many craft booths.
What is the FabMo Artisans Market?
FabMo saves sample fabrics, tiles and other design materials from the landfill and makes them available to local makers. Its annual Artisans Market sells goods made from those materials. The 2026 market was Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Los Altos Community Center, with nearly 40 artisans and free entry.
Are holiday craft fairs included here?
No. This page covers craft and maker fairs held outside the holiday season. For November and December events such as the Barron Park Craft Fair, the Allied Arts Guild Christmas Market and the German Holiday Market in Mountain View, see our holiday markets guide.