Fall At The Ferry Building Brings A Harvest Festival And Endless Craft Markets
It's not too early for gift-giving season, and the Ferry Building has countless craft and holiday markets popping up on the calendar.
San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls.
Visit the Ferry Building website for more details about each of these events.
One-time events
1. TexSom Wine Tasting
Taste winning wines from the Dallas TexSom Wine Competition, courtesy of the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. 4:30-8pm Wednesday, September 28 at the Ferry Building Grand Hall – tickets are $59.
2. Daybreaker SF
An all-ages community yoga and dance party event by HAUM Studio. 10am-1pm on Sunday, October 9 in the Back Plaza.
3. The Big Quiet
A mass meditation event set to music with a sound bath, live string instrumentalists, an open non-alcoholic bar, an AR photo op, and special guests. 7-9pm on Tuesday, October 18 in the Ferry Building Grand Hall – tickets are $35.
4. Harvest Festival
A family-friendly harvest festival with kids’ activities, cooking demos, trick-or-treating, and a movie night, courtesy of Foodwise and the Ferry Building Marketplace. October 28-30.
- Oct. 28 – Movie Night – 7pm Hocus Pocus, 9pm Jaws
- Oct. 29 – Farmers’ Market pop-ups on the Ferry Terminal Plaza
- Oct. 30 – Trick or Treat and Scavenger Hunt
5. SF International Tea Festival
The 9th annual SF International Tea Festival presents over 30 vendors with tea tastings and products for sale, as well as lectures and presentations. Guests will get a free porcelain tasting cup and a swag bag. 11am-5pm November 5-6 – tickets are $25-40.
Recurring events
6. Ferry Fridays
Bay Area musicians perform live music on the Ferry Building’s back plaza. Final performance from 3-6pm on September 30 with Liberty Ellman, Tammy Hall, and David Lechuga.
7. Outdoor Yoga SF Community Classes
Outdoor Yoga SF teaches Wednesday Vinyasa yoga sessions. Final class is 11:30am-12:30pm Wednesday, September 28 on the Back Plaza.
8. Head West Makers Market
An artisan market with free entry spotlighting local businesses, happening on the Ferry Building Back Plaza. October 2, November 6, December 4 (first Sundays), 11am-5pm.
9. Wednesday Flight Nights
Casual wine tastings at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant & Wine Bar. 4-7pm on Wednesdays.
10. Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market
This popular market is regarded as one of the finest farmers’ markets in the country, and is frequented by high-profile chefs and farmers alike. Recurring 10am-2pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 8am-2pm on Saturdays.
11. Creativity Explored Holiday pop-up
A market of original drawings, paintings, ceramics and more by neurodiverse and disabled Bay Area artists. Saturdays and Sundays, November 26-December 18 in Suite 31.
12. Holiday Craft Making
A series of free kid-friendly craft workshops. Sundays from November 27-December 18.
- November 27 – “Beary Merry Holidays” – polar bear-themed crafts
- December 4 – “Snowflake Crafts” – Decorate snowflakes with beads, gems, and pasta
- December 11 – “Deck the Halls” – Make mini holiday wreaths, ornaments, snow globes and more
- December 18 – “Pretty Presents” – Make hot chocolate ornaments, personalized mugs, and more
Keep a close eye on the Ferry Building’s events calendar, as fun pop-ups and events occur throughout the year. The building is also available for private events.
History of the Ferry Building
American architect A. Page Brown designed the Ferry Building in 1892, taking inspiration from the Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain. Construction was completed on the edge of the Bay in 1898, and it served as the city’s portal for ferry fleets and trains. As many as 50,000 people commuted by ferry, making the building one of the world’s busiest transit terminals at the time. Thanks to its sturdy structure, the building survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with minimal damage.
Upon construction of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, ferry transit became obsolete and much of the Ferry Building was converted to office spaces in the 1950s. It was also obscured by the massive elevated Embarcadero Freeway for 35 years, which came down after the 1989 earthquake.
The Ferry Building underwent an intensive 4-year restoration and reopened in 2003 as we know it today. It contains a world-class food marketplace promoting regional artisans and high-quality goods from Northern California. The ferry terminal continues to operate, connecting San Francisco to nearby Oakland, Alameda, Richmond, and more.
Merchants
You truly can’t go wrong with any of the Ferry Building’s merchants, all of which are celebrated local artisans in their field. Their expansive outdoor dining area has excellent views of the Bay.
Dining options are abundant, with both sit-down restaurants and grab-and-go meals available throughout the building. Some of our favorites include Red Bay Coffee for unique drinks like their popular Charcoal Vanilla Latte, Humphry Slocombe for out-of-the-box ice cream flavors (bourbon and corn flakes, anyone?), and Hog Island Oyster Co. for fresh oysters and shellfish with beautiful Bay views.
Artisanal products include everything from pottery to caviar. The Epicurean Trader is an essential stop for small-batch products to round out a luxurious charcuterie board, among other things. Heath Ceramics specializes in mid-century American pottery, and Benedetta brings high-quality sustainable beauty products. Pick up your weekly loaf from Acme Bread Company, or treat yourself to some “bean-to-bar” chocolate products from Dandelion Chocolate.
What’s more, the popular Fog City Flea pop-up market became a permanent installation at the Ferry Building this year.
Visiting the Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is open daily from 7am-10pm, but hours for individual businesses vary. Find it on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street at One Ferry Building in San Francisco.
Featured image: C. Valdez on Unsplash