Jingle All the Clay returns to Downtown Long Beach as one of the city’s most charming and hands-on holiday traditions. It’s a ceramic market and creative workshop series that merges art, community, and festive joy. Hosted by Clay on Firstt, the beloved neighborhood ceramics studio, the event runs on multiple Saturdays and Sundays through December 21, offering a warm alternative to the usual holiday shopping chaos.
What to expect from Jingle All the Clay
This year’s celebration brings together a wide range of local ceramicists whose work spans functional wares, sculptural curiosities, and giftable handmade treasures. Guests can browse a curated holiday market filled with mugs, vases, ornaments, and one-of-a-kind pieces, all crafted by artists rooted in Southern California’s clay community. The atmosphere is as cozy as it is creative—complete with hot beverages, seasonal sweets from Loverboy Provisions, and optional adult sips to enjoy while exploring the studio.
But Jingle All the Clay goes beyond browsing: attendees can roll up their sleeves and create. Whether painting ornaments or shaping small pottery pieces from scratch, guests are invited into the rhythm of clay work, making it an ideal destination for thoughtful, personalized holiday gifts. The event is designed to be low-pressure, joy-forward, and delightfully communal—exactly the kind of creativity boost the holiday season deserves.
Ultimately, it’s exactly what it advertises: Meaningful holiday shopping and supporting local makers.
Featured Artists
- Bug Soda — @veryberrybugsoda
- Casted Roots — @castedroots
- Doreen Lynch — @dcupspottery
- ECB Creates — @ecb.creates
- Emma Van Der Veen — @emma.does.clay
- John Rygh — @jryghceramics
- Muddy Noni — @mudrelics
- My Friend Ceramics — @myfriendceramics
- Nanc:y — @tangnancy
- Vangauguin Designs — @vangauguindesigns
Clay on First has always been about community: A bit of history.
In the heart of the East Village Arts District sits Clay on First, a ceramics studio and gallery that has become a cornerstone of Long Beach’s creative community. Founded in 2009 by artist and teacher Clay Wood, the studio has grown into a space where both novices and experienced ceramicists can get their hands dirty. Learn new skills. And create something, well, tangible. From wheel-throwing to sculpture classes, gallery exhibitions to open studio time, Clay on First has cultivated a reputation as both a teaching hub and a showcase for local artistry.
Once a modest storefront along First Street, the building has cycled through various community-oriented uses, always retaining its neighborhood charm. Before becoming a ceramics studio, the space was home to small businesses that helped shape the corridor’s identity as a walkable arts-friendly district.
When Clay on First moved in, the transformation was both practical and symbolic. Kilns replaced retail racks, wheels replaced display shelves, and the space evolved into a tactile, collaborative environment where creativity takes literal shape. Over time, the studio has become a hub for makers—hosting classes, pop-ups, gallery events, and markets like Jingle All the Clay that draw visitors from across the city. Its evolution mirrors that of Downtown Long Beach itself: a blend of tradition, reinvention, and artistic momentum.
Clay on First is located at 406 E. 1st St.
