The story below is from our November/December 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Get into the holiday spirit with these thoughtful, local gift ideas that combine instant joy with something to look forward to, perfect for everyone on your list!
Tis the season! With Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa coming up, the gift-giving season is upon us (although, really, any time is a good time for a heartfelt gift).
Receiving a present is exciting; the human brain is hardwired to crave novelty, and a wrapped package is full of possibilities. Many people claim that they have too much stuff and don’t want anything; the trick is to make the gift one which the recipient is thrilled to receive and one that they will use or enjoy.
Should you skip the gifts entirely? Not so fast! Numerous studies have found that the act of giving a gift makes us happy (hello, dopamine) and reinforces relationships. Selecting the right gift can be stressful, but here are some ideas for everyone on your list.
One trick to keep in mind is that the perfect gift is one that combines instant gratification with something to look forward to. For example, if you are shopping for a chocoholic, fill a charming gift bag with a selection of candies from chocolatepaper and include a gift card so your recipient can explore more flavors at a later time.
This approach will work for a variety of interests and tastes:
Shopping for a beer lover? Find out their favorite style (IPA, lager, etc.) and curate a sampler of that style from the local breweries. This will take some leg work, but they will look forward to doing a taste test and may find their new favorite. Add to the gift by including a shirt or other merch from their favorite brewery. You can also grab their favorite beverages at spots like Barrel Chest or Crystal Spring Grocery.
A wine connoisseur will enjoy receiving a bottle of their preferred libation. Including a gift card to someplace like Wine Gourmet, Gladheart Wine & Brews, The Jolly Grape or Stave and Cork where they can sample a variety of wines and purchase the one they like will elevate the gift to an experience.
Caffeine drinkers will enjoy gift cards or certificates from Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, RND, Little Green Hive or Sweet Donkey. Add a bag of coffee from RND or a package of coffee or tea from Mill Mountain for the win.
Got a sweet tooth on your list? Visit The Dilly Dally, The Candy Store Roanoke, Blue Cow or Sugar Magnolia for some sweet treats.
For the avid reader, a gift card or certificate to one of our local bookstores is a great idea. Check out Book No Further, War On Books, Wonderous Books and More, Rainy Day Reads, Dragon Bite Books and Too Many Books for their next favorite read. Make it even more special by adding a bookmark and something tasty to snack on or sip while reading.
Other local shops that offer a variety of products from snacks to vintage finds to home décor to unique goods include Sycamore Station, Blue Moon Vintage Mercantile, Glow Healing Arts, Big Lick Exotix, Two & A Half Sisters, The French Farmhouse Home Market, Black Dog Salvage, A Little Bit Hippy, Present Thyme, Blade Gaming and Crafteria.
Looking for a family gift? Brush up on your artistic skills and design a T-shirt. Then get a set printed at one of our local printers. See Big Lick Screen Printing, Press Press Merch, Spartan Silk Screen Company or The Fuzzy Pickle to get them made.
Families will also enjoy passes or memberships to local attractions like the Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke Pinball Museum, Roanoke Starcade Arcade Museum, Kids Square Children’s Museum and The Taubman Museum of Art.
For the person who has everything: Experiences make great and memorable gifts!
For more active pursuits, try gifting one of these experiences: River Rock Climbing Gym, Blue Ridge Axe Throwing, The Stress Factory, Launching Pad Trampoline Park, Skate Center of Roanoke Valley, Firehouse Skate ‘N’ Play, Lancerlot Sports Complex, Thunder Valley or Shrewd Archery. They can also try a unique evening out with Jump Into Mystery or join the crowd and cheer on the Rail Yard Dawgs at a hockey game.
For entertainment, look into venues and organizations that offer movies or dance, music and theatre performances and grab tickets to shows with The Grandin Theatre, Virginia Children’s Theatre, Opera Roanoke, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Mill Mountain Theater or the Jefferson Center.
For creative folks, a class at a sculpting studio like Motel Studios, Common Clay Pottery Workshop, Studio 228, a stained glass session at Machine Creek Studio or instruction and supplies from The Knittin’ Coop make great gifts. Gather friends for fun with Create Roanoke or see Get Lit Candle Bar’s calendar and schedule a candle-making date at a local brewery.
As we head into the holiday season, there are many local vendors and artisans selling their products at vendor fairs, holiday markets and farmers markets. Check them out for little surprises or big gifts.
Keep in mind, if you run out of time, a small gift and a gift certificate for one or more of our fabulous local businesses will provide the instant gratification and the anticipation necessary to create a well-planned gift (and will keep you from looking like Scrooge).
Once you choose a theme, it’s easy and fun to curate the perfect gift. Happy holidays!
The story above is from our November/December 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!