SUNDAY, NOV. 17

The Patchwork Show Makers Festival is a free biannual craft fair that sets up shop around Southern California offering local artists, crafters and designers a space to showcase their handmade goods in an affordable venue. The Long Beach show, their largest event, boasts more than 250 vendors this year with hundreds, even thousands of handmade crafts and original wares just waiting to be discovered.

Patchwork vendors are strategically selected by a jury, to ensure a wide-array of unique, high quality goods: handbags, jewelry, furniture, home goods, ceramics, clothing for men, women and children, knits and crochets and apothecary items.

Not only can you shop, but you can also make some of your very own handmade creations. More than 20 DIY craft stations will be on-site, including holiday workshops where you can create porcelain ornaments, gift bags (and wax tags!), bookmarks, cards, greenery present toppers and jingle bell necklaces.

For whatever reason, shopping makes for a strong appetite. Rest assured, gourmet food trucks will be peddling their edible goods alongside artisan food vendors. And you can take a breather from the shopping excursion by checking out some of the live bands and entertainment.

Another great thing: Free shuttle and bike valet! You can download their event and shuttle map, here (you’ll need to scroll down the webpage a bit to find it).

Giving us a moment’s pause: Handmade presents, especially ones you don’t actually have to make by hand, really do make the best gifts.

The Patchwork Show Long Beach Makers Festival runs Sunday, Nov. 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marine Stadium boat slip (5255 E Paoli Way) right off Appian Way. For more information visit their Facebook page or website, here.