Holiday craft shows in Toronto are only superior to the mall scene if you're shopping for a certain type of person: a person you truly love. Aw. Just kidding though, there's plenty of stuff on hand for co-workers, rando cousins, and secret Santas. I'll be at home reading Waldfogel: even his name is like "bah humbug."

Here are my picks for the top holiday craft shows in Toronto for 2014.

21st Annual Festival of Smalls - November 8 - December 24
Arty Festival of Smalls, on now north of St Clair West, has artwork in a variety of styles and mediums up from $55 - $250. Art Interiors (446 Spadina Road, Suite 203).

Midnight MRKT - Holiday Shopping Edition - November 21
It's $5 at the door, but this DJ party isn't your ordinary show and sale. Check out the sounds, eats, and vendors at this edition of MRKT here. 2nd Floor Events (461 King St. West)

Toronto Etsy Holiday Pop-Up
It's Etsy.ca but you can touch things and you don't have to wait doe-eyed by the mailbox. Is it DIY? No, it's not, at all, but they sure do like those letters. November 21-26. Huntclub (709 College St).

One Of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale - November 27 - December 7
One of a Kind is like a craft fair mall experience (so, way cuter). Going on 1000 Canadian artisans will be selling handmade gifts and there will be a cafe so you can caffeine up and power shop. There will be a gift wrapping centre because it's fancy. Check out their site for late night shopping and more. Direct Energy Centre.

Toronto Christmas Market - November 28 - December 21,
The Toronto Christmas Market is back for its fourth year, and its expansive set up will (sort of) emulate a European Christmas Market. Shop for local handcrafted products from a variety of vendors, check out the family friendly entertainment, or just pound mulled wine. Distillery Historic District (55 Mill Street).

#localTOmrkt - November 29 - December 24
Yonge & Dundas/Ryerson will host a chilly pop up shop in a vacant lot. Deck the halls, skip the malls, ho ho ho we have details. 335 Yonge St.

Holiday Post Market - November 30
Vintage, handmade, and new. What sets this one apart? You do, if you go. Check out the vendor list here. The Great Hall.

Union Station Holiday Market - December 1 - 7
Pretty self explanatory: local vendors will pack Union Station, which isn't already a chaotic mess or anything. Here's everything you need to know. 65 Front St West.

Bit Bazaar Winter Market - December 6
The nerdiest market in Toronto is back! Check it out for the indie games, stay for the geeky shopping. And the geeks. Meow. Bento Miso Collaborative Workspace.

The Artisans Gift Fair - December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21
Weekends at the Tranzac in December through Christmas you can do your craft pop up shopping without leaving the Annex, then get everything else at Honest Ed's. This is the pro leagues. Tranzac (292 Brunswick Ave).

City of Craft - December 12 - 14
Toronto's favourite craft show is a must-hit. High quality wares by deftly curated established and/or promising local crafters and artisans will be on sale amid installations and workshops. Get to the Theatre Centre early enough and you might get a free tote. Tis the season.

Toronto Young Designers Holiday - December 13
The 5th annual Toronto Young Designers Holiday Sale will host an impressive line up of local vendors in mid December. Look for jewellery, home decor, paper goods, clothing, art, and of course, tote bags. Church of St-Stephens in the Field (103 Bellevue Ave)

Annex Flea - December 13-14
The Annex's own flea will set up for two days at the Centre for Social Innovation instead of just a Sunday. If you leave everything to the last minute, you might miss the TTC on the way to the sale and have to wait in the cold. Unpleasant. Be careful. CSI (720 Bathurst).

Vendor Queens - December 14, 21
Vendor Queens' pop-up market, featuring all manner of handmade and vintage goods, will be back this year, making the move to the Evergreen Brickworks. Check out what Vendor Queens is about here. Evergreen Brickworks (550 Bayview Ave).

Additional shows and sales

• 1st Annual Toronto Art Crawl Christmas Show and Sale (Nov 21, Liberty Village Presentation Centre)
• FCAG's Deck the Halls Miniature Art & Craft Show (Nov 22, Franklin Carmichael Art Centre, Etobicoke)
• Kinky Craft Fair (Nov 27, Hart House)
• OCADU Book Arts Fair (Nov 29, OCAD)
• Geek Boutique (Nov 29, Back Space Toronto)
• Canada's First Annual Fair Trade Show (Nov 29, Gladstone Hotel)
• Partridge and Pear Holiday Arts Market (Nov 29, Artscape Youngplace)
• Canadian Indigenous Art Exhibit and Sale (Nov 29-30, MOCCA)
• Leslieville Flea Holiday Market (Nov 30, S.H. Armstrong Community Centre)
• Mondo Bazaar (Dec 6 - 7, Gladstone Hotel)
• Corktown Holiday Market & Social (Dec 5, Redline Coffee & Espresso Bar)
• Winter Open House - Craft & Gift Sale (Dec 6, Morningside-High Park Presbyterian Church)
• You CAN KEEP it! Holiday Pop Up Market (Dec 6, 224 Wallace Ave)
• Pop Up Christmas Market (Dec 6, Placebo Space)
• Makers Market Holiday Pop Up (Dec 6, Crawford Bar)
• Pegasus Holiday Bazaars (Dec 6, Kew Gardens Cottage)
• Beauty Saves Thriftique- Pop Up Shop (Dec 6, Annex Art Cente)
• A Collective Dundas MRKT (Magpie)
• Santa in the Junction (Dec 7)
• Christmas Flea (Dec 7, Junction City Music Hall)
• DDL Bazaar (December 7, Double Double Land)
• Firsthand Fair (Dec 7, 3030)
• The 20th Annual CBC Charity Craft Sale (Dec 11, CBC)
• Small is Beautiful (Dec 11, Wychwood Barns Community Gallery)
• 2nd Annual tinyART SALE (Dec 13, Toronto School of Art)
• Winter Folk Fair (Dec 13, St. Vladimir Institute)
• The Sassy Little Craft Show (Dec 14, Central)
• Chanukah Family Fun Fair (Dec 14, Miles Nadal JCC)
• ComiCon One Day Show & Festivus Holiday Sale (Dec 14, Metro Toronto Convention Centre)
• Alternative Gift Fair (Dec 14, Toronto Tool Library)
• The Stop's Holiday Farmers' Market Pop-Up Event (Dec 14, Dec 21, Steam Whistle Brewing)

Did I miss a craft show? Add it to the comments.

Photo of Vendor Queens by Denise McMullin