Makers Hive at Santa Monica Place: A Monthly Makers Market Near Me

Not every makers market needs a parking-lot festival and a ticket. The Makers Hive Market is the small, regular kind. About 35 local makers and small businesses set up in Center Plaza at Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, from noon to 5pm on one weekend day a month. Entry is free, dogs are welcome and there is live music. For a westside makers market near me that fits around a beach afternoon, it is the low-effort option.

Makers Hive has been a fixture of the mall's events calendar all year. In 2026 it ran on Sunday, March 8; Sunday, April 12; Sunday, July 12; Sunday, August 9; Sunday, September 13; and Saturday, October 10. Most editions land on the second weekend of the month, but the day can shift, as October's Saturday date shows. Santa Monica Place lists each one on its events page with the date, time and plaza location.

Because it is monthly, the market works differently from a once-a-year holiday fair. Some makers return month after month and get to know regulars. Others rotate in for a single date. That makes it a good place to follow a favorite jewelry or candle maker over time, and to meet newer sellers who are not yet doing the big ticketed fairs.

The organizers describe it as curated local handmade goods, art and vintage. In practice that means jewelry, prints and small original artwork, candles and body care, clothing and accessories, and a few racks of vintage. With 35-plus booths, it is compact enough to see in under an hour, which suits a quick gift run or a browse between lunch and the beach.

Prices are set by the makers, and you will find everything from small stocking-filler items to one-off pieces. Most sellers take cards. Ask about custom orders, especially as the holidays approach. Monthly regulars often take requests at one market and deliver at the next.

Santa Monica Place opened in 1980 as an enclosed mall designed by Frank Gehry and reopened in 2010 as an open-air center with a rooftop dining deck and views toward the ocean. Center Plaza, where the market sets up, is the open heart of the property, with seating and shade nearby. Today the center is run by PRISM Places and has more than 80 stores and restaurants, including Nordstrom.

The location is the real advantage. Third Street Promenade begins right next door, and the Santa Monica Pier is two blocks away. You can browse the Hive, walk the Promenade, and be on the sand within ten minutes, which is a rare combination for a makers market in Los Angeles.

The market is family friendly and pet friendly, so expect strollers and leashed dogs. Keep leashes short around the tables, which are close together in the plaza. Live music plays through the afternoon, and the organizers mention photo opportunities, so taking pictures of the scene is welcome. For a close-up of a maker's work, ask first.

There is no entry fee and no line. The market runs noon to 5pm, while the center itself keeps longer hours: 10am to 8pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 7pm on Sunday. If you arrive early on a market day, you can shop the stores first and catch the makers when they finish setting up.

Makers Hive pairs naturally with the rest of downtown Santa Monica. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the city's Downtown Farmers Market runs on Arizona Avenue, a few blocks north, so a Saturday edition of the Hive can follow a morning of produce shopping. Between the two, you can fill a bag with local food, flowers and handmade gifts without moving the car.

Arrive near noon for the best choice. By midafternoon, popular items such as small ceramics and handmade jewelry thin out. The busiest stretch is usually 1pm to 3pm, when beach crowds drift up from the pier. The last hour, from 4pm, is quieter and a good time to chat with makers.

Plan around the weather and the light. Santa Monica afternoons can turn cool and breezy near the coast, so bring a layer from November on. In winter, the sun sets around 4:45pm, so a walk to the pier after the market will be at dusk.

The city's Parking Structures 7 and 8 sit right next to Santa Monica Place and run 24 hours. The first 90 minutes are free, then $2 for the next hour, then $2 or $3 for each additional 30 minutes, with a daily maximum of $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends. The first two levels are reserved for three-hour parking, so head to the upper levels if you plan to stay longer. Valet parking is available on 2nd Street, between Colorado and Broadway, at a $25 flat fee.

Car-free options are easy. The Metro E Line ends at Downtown Santa Monica station, a short walk from the mall, and the center is near Big Blue Bus stops and bike friendly. For a beach day without a car, the train is the simplest choice.

Makers Hive suits locals who want a regular, low-key place to buy from small businesses, visitors staying near the pier who would like a gift with a local story, and dog owners. If you want hundreds of booths and a festival scale, wait for the big fall fairs. This is a neighborhood market in a shopping center, and it is best enjoyed that way.

Address: Center Plaza, Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Schedule: monthly, usually the second weekend, noon to 5pm; 2026 editions included September 13 and October 10. Entry is free, and pets are welcome. Parking: Structures 7 and 8, first 90 minutes free, weekend daily maximum $25; valet $25 flat on 2nd Street. Center hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm.