57th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Faire in Torrance

The Torrance Craftsmens Guild opens the holiday shopping season with its 57th annual arts and crafts faire at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. More than 80 artists set up to sell handcrafted goods meant for gift-giving, and admission and parking are both free. If you are scanning for LA events this weekend that cost nothing to walk into, this one belongs on the list.

When: Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Madrona Avenue and Torrance Boulevard, Torrance Cost: Free admission and free parking

What to expect

This is a classic South Bay craft faire. Rather than mass-produced stock, the tables hold work made by the people standing behind them, so you can ask how a piece was made and what it is made of. The guild frames the whole event around holiday gifts, which makes it an easy place to cross several names off a list in one afternoon: something for a neighbor, something for a teacher, something for yourself.

A faire that has run for 57 years tends to have regulars on both sides of the tables. Shoppers come back each fall, and vendors build a following over the seasons. That kind of continuity is a good reason to go early on Saturday while the selection is full.

Plan your visit

The faire runs both days with the same hours, so you can pick whichever fits your weekend. Parking is free, which is a real perk for anyone who has circled a lot in other parts of town. Cash and cards vary by vendor, so bring a little of each. Bags help, since handmade pieces add up quickly.

Vendor spots are limited to guild members in good standing, so the lineup is a curated community of local makers rather than an open-call market. If you hope to sell next year, the guild is the place to ask.

Getting there

The Cultural Arts Center sits at 3330 Civic Center Drive in Torrance, at the corner of Madrona and Torrance Boulevard. It is a short drive from the 405 and a good stop to pair with lunch nearby. Anyone browsing upcoming events in Los Angeles for a low-cost way to start the holiday season will find this a relaxed option, no tickets and no line to buy one.

Check the festivals page for more things happening in Los Angeles this month.