Ah the holiday season – when gift giving, secret santas, and white elephant parties pop up every other weekend. You’re fueling yourself on coffee – admit it, you’ve hit a point where you’ll drink it hot or lukewarm – yet you still struggle to keep up with everything on your list.
I’m right there with you. Lukewarm coffee and all.
But in the midst of it all, I find myself joyful and thankful for a mindset to keep going and people to celebrate alongside. And for the city of Harrisburg which fosters the place I get to call ‘home for the holidays.’
As you plan for the season ahead, I’d like to challenge you to shake up your approach to holiday gift giving. Instead of relying on Amazon prime for last minute delivery, think about fostering the local Harrisburg community and putting your money back into the community that invests in each of us.
I often think about ways I can invest in my local community more, and during a season when spending is more of a necessity than an option for a lot of us, why not empower local individuals and families to continue pursing their craft/passion/hobby for the benefit of themselves and our community?
To pair a less stressful holiday season with a more intertwined community, I’ve compiled a list of 19 local Harrisburg businesses and side hustles to shop for the holidays. Check out the list below for Harrisburg holiday gift inspiration!
For the Fashionista:
1.Stash Vintage
With an ever-changing assortment of vintage clothing, Stash Vintage will readily help you locate a unique piece of clothing to wrap up and place under the tree. You can shop their Etsy site or their new storefront located in SoMa.
2. Fennec Design
You can never go wrong with gifting a one of a kind garment to your fashionable friend. Fennec Design creates and sells self-designed tees and more, meaning they’ll help you gift something your friend doesn’t already have hanging in their closet.
For the Practical One:
3. Lupine Ceramics
Whether you’re the practical gift giver or your recipient’s the practical gift receiver, explore Lupine Ceramics’ wide variety of practical every day items. From ring holders to coffee mugs, you’re sure to find a gift fit perfectly for your recipient.
4.Free and Thriving
Perfect for a co-worker, neighbor, or all-natural loving friend, Free and Thriving offers a wide variety of products catered to natural and chemical-free living. Best of all, their products fulfill every day household needs so you really can’t go wrong. You could easily stuff a stocking full of these goodies!
For the Jewelry Lover:
5.FoundWanderer
FoundWanderer creates handmade jewelry pieces from beautiful and natural crystals. In each of her pieces you can find raw beauty drawn to life through the passion this designer pours into her work. Perfect for stocking stuffing, share in this designer’s passion by gifting one of her jewelry pieces this year!
6. Lomostudio Designs
Passion turned full-time job, Lomostudio crafts intricate jewelry pieces inspired by nature. And good thing there’s nothing quite like a small gift-wrapped box under the tree to get the gift senses ring-ting-tingling!
For the Men in Your Life:
7. Leonard’s Lights
Using repurposed material, Leonard’s Lights creates custom lighting from old liquor bottles. As their tagline goes, “We keep you lit long after your alcohol is gone.” Light up your significant others’ life with a handcrafted gift this season! His mancave will thank you.
8. Midtown Dandy
The Midtown Dandy, newly located in SoMa, offers vintage/second hand clothing selections specifically curated for men. Check out their inventory often throughout the holiday season to see what’s new in stock! You can never go wrong with the gift of clothing.
9. Freckles Tie Company
For the one who needs a tie for every occasion, Freckles Tie Company offers a wide selection of uniquely handmade ties guaranteed to set the bar high at his next outing. Holiday parties here he comes!
For the Athletic Ones:
10. Thrive Fit Co.
This boutique fitness studio offers boxing-inspired fitness classes, bootcamps, and strength training based on your experience level! Consider treating a friend, partner, sibling – you name it – to a class or two as a gift this holiday season! Might be the perfect motivation to get you in on a class too!
For the Home Decorators:
11. Our Sweetest Place
Behind Our Sweetest Place is a husband and wife who have teamed up to create hand painted signs and spread their love for essential oils. A perfect gift for any decor lover, they will create a custom sign to your specifications and interests. Or if you pulled your essential oil-loving sister for secret santa, consider ordering from them in the spirit of keeping gift shopping local!
12. Lotus Designs
Creating custom string artwork, Lotus Designs knows how to add a creative touch to any room. Whether etching the skyline of your favorite city, creating newlywed home décor, or cheering on your favorite sports team, she’s sure to design a piece of work suited for any living room, play room, or sports room alike.
For the Coffee Lover:
13. Little Amps
Mornings are rough, and Christmas morning isn’t much different for some of us. Have you ever thought about waking up to a stocking filled with coffee? Well maybe you know someone who has, and Little Amps Coffee Roasters is more than capable to make that dream come true. Consider stocking stuffing a little differently this year! They’ve got some cool merch and gift card options available on their site as well!
14. Elementary Coffee Co.
Know a co-worker or roommate whose worst (and only) bad quality is their inability to keep the coffee pot full? How about fueling their love for coffee this holiday season with grounds or a gift card from Elementary Coffee Co this year? They stock cool swag on their website too if that’s more your gifting style.
For the Alcohol Connoisseurs:
15. Midstate Distillery
For the giftee who always crafts the best cocktails, try sharing Midstate Distillery’s locally sourced & handcrafted spirits. Think of all the fun Christmas day and New Year’s cocktails in your future 😉
16. Zeroday Brewery
Craft beer or die, as your older brother might say. Introduce someone new to Zeroday Brewing Co. by gifting them a few crowler fills of your favorite beer. Or for the current Zeroday lover, gift cards speak straight to the heart.
17. Springgate Vineyard
Help keep your mom’s wine fridge full – although it won’t remain full for long – by gifting a few Springgate Vineyard classics. Plus, it’s much easier to wrap the entire case of wine then just one bottle.
For the Family/Group Gift:
18. Outside the Box Escape Room
Nothing quite like the holidays to bring your family and friends together. Keep the morale alive by gifting a private room at Outside the Box Escape Room, which accommodates up to 12 people. You can plan your excursion for a later date to get the family back together again!
19. Manada Tree Creations
Thinking about getting a little crafty for the holidays? Manada Tree Creations throws in-home craft parties to help you get in touch with your creative side. Merge the generations by gifting a craft party all can get in on!
Happy Holiday Gift Hunting!
With so many varying options to shop local for the holidays, you’re not short on luck for finding something perfectly tailored to the gift recipient. But I’m warning you now, you might have to do a little shopping for yourself while you’re at it.
Cherishburg 