Mission Trails Holiday Marketplace Goes Two Days This Year
Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is expanding its Holiday Marketplace to a full weekend, and if you’ve been looking for a way to shop local while supporting one of San Diego’s best outdoor spaces, this is it.
The two-day event features independent artists and makers selling handcrafted goods – ceramics, jewelry, textiles, artwork, gourmet treats, and more – with a portion of all sales going directly to the park.
What Makes This Different
This isn’t a craft fair with mass-produced items pretending to be handmade. We’re talking actual one-of-a-kind pieces from independent artists who are putting real work into what they create. The Visitor Center gets transformed into a festive shopping experience that feels more thoughtful than your typical holiday market.
The MTRP Foundation is also rolling out new, exclusive Mission Trails-branded merchandise at the event, which gives you another way to support the park while picking up something unique.
Given that Mission Trails is one of the largest urban parks in the country, with over 2 million visitors annually, the foundation’s work in preserving, protecting, and improving the space matters significantly.
The Practical Details
Admission is free, but the event is cashless – cards and Apple Pay only. There’s a complimentary shuttle running between the Visitor Center and offsite parking at Jackson Drive lot, plus overflow parking at West Hills High School in Santee.
If you’re a weekend hiker, you’re encouraged to explore other areas of the park during the event – East and West Fortuna Staging Areas, Old Mission Dam, and Kumeyaay Lake Campground are all open and likely less crowded.
Why It’s Worth Going
Shopping at the Holiday Marketplace does a few things at once. You’re supporting independent artists who are trying to make a living doing creative work. You’re contributing to the preservation of a park that serves millions of people every year. And you’re finding gifts that actually mean something because they’re handcrafted and unique.
It’s become a seasonal tradition for a reason – the quality of the goods, the festive atmosphere, and the direct impact on the park make it more than just another shopping event. Plus, you get to do it at Mission Trails, which is already one of the better places to spend a weekend morning in San Diego.
See you there!
Hit the marketplace, browse what local artists have made, and start checking names off your holiday list while supporting a park that genuinely needs it.
📆 Saturday & Sunday, November 15 – 16, 9 AM – 3 PM
📍 One Father Junípero Serra Trail, San Diego
🎟️ Free admission
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!
