The holiday rush is on here in Pennsylvania. To take the stress out of last-minute holiday shopping, we put together a guide to our favorite locally made gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Still need a Christmas tree? We’ve got you covered there, too, with some of our favorite Christmas tree farms from across the state.
READ MORE: 7 Pennsylvania holiday traditions that capture the spirit of the season
The Best Holiday Gifts in Pennsylvania
We all know that many gifts can be purchased with just a click from many big box online retailers, but we love the idea of finding unique PA-made and sold gifts that can be a joy to both buy and give. Browse our favorite Pennsylvania gifts below, and be sure to let us know where you’re shopping locally in the state this holiday season!
Keystone Merch
You can stuff a stocking and support local journalism at the same time by buying swag from The Keystone. We’ve got you covered with a notebook, a tote bag and six really cool T-shirts.
Vintage Sports Gear
Pennsylvania sports fans are serious sports fans. This year, give your favorite sports lover something unique to celebrate their allegiance to their team—by going back in time! While you can easily pick up a team’s current jersey or a souvenir baseball online, your options widen when you consider the sports memorabilia that’s been around for decades. Vintage pennants often have fun, old versions of team logos and vintage sports tees and jerseys might pop in different, unexpected colors. But where to find such vintage sports gear?
You can crawl vintage shops in your town, which are likely to have many items from your local team if it’s been around a long time. Pittsburgh Steelers fans might find shirts celebrating the 1970s-era “Steel Curtain,” while Philadelphia Phillies fans could find memorabilia from 1980, when the Phillies won the World Series. You might also want to hit up area flea markets or holiday vintage markets.
In the Philly area, you’ll definitely want to visit Shibe Vintage Sports, a mecca for throwback Philly sports gear. You should also look online. Etsy has a lot of listings for vintage team gear, and you can even search by location if you want to support a local vintage business. For example, Etsy shop TheSportsAlternative is based in Moon Township and has nearly 2,000 vintage pennants for sale.
Rye Whiskey and Other Pa. Liquor
Whiskey is important to the history of Pennsylvania, given that the commonwealth was home to the infamous Whiskey Rebellion. But the fields of western Pa. are known for a specific type of whiskey—rye whiskey.
This year, gift the special spirit to a special someone, but be sure it was crafted in Pa. Some favorite Pa. rye whiskeys include those made by Washington’s Liberty Pole Spirits and the Lehigh Valley’s Eight Oaks Farm Distillery. You might also want to gift the rye alongside another whiskey-themed gift, like a planned trip to the Whiskey Rebellion Education and Visitor Center in Washington or a copy of the book “The Whiskey Rebellion and the Rebirth of Rye: A Pittsburgh Story,” written by two of the co-founders of Pittsburgh’s Wigle Whiskey.
Not a fan of whiskey? You can pick up a wide variety of Pa.-made liquor—and only liquor and other alcohol made in Pa.—at Pennsylvania Libations, which has two locations in Pittsburgh and one in Philadelphia.
Pa. Folk Art
Pennsylvania has a legacy of folk art that’s both fascinating and helpful for the Pa.-focused gift giver.
For example, the pottery craft of the Pennsylvania-German Moravian community lives on through decorative Moravian tiles, which you can learn more about at The Tileworks in Doylestown, a “working history museum” that both chronicles the history of tilemaking and still produces tiles in the traditional manner. The Tileworks also has a gift shop where you can purchase Moravian tiles for your friends and family. You might also be interested in Amish furniture, renowned for its strength and durability, for sale across the commonwealth but especially in Lancaster County, the center of Pa. Dutch Country.
A Pa. Snack Basket
Pay homage to the Pennsylvania “Snack Belt” by creating a gift basket of some of Pennsylvania’s best snack foods. You’ll of course want to cover favorite Pa. potato chip brands like Herr’s, Utz, and Middleswarth. But you can also add Philadelphia’s Tastykake, some (holiday-themed!) marshmallow Peeps from Bethlehem, Hershey Kisses, and pretzels from Snyder’s of Hanover. You could also stuff a bottle of Heinz ketchup in there, just because. Bonus points if the basket is made in Pennsylvania!
Pa. Experiences
Pa. is full of fantastic museums, gardens, and theater companies that promise an incredible day or evening out. Gift a fun experience to friends or family—especially to those who have everything—by grabbing them tickets to places like Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, the Mattress Factory contemporary art museum in Pittsburgh, or the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville for an upcoming film or live show. You could even purchase a membership to a museum or garden as a gift—supporting a Pa. organization and allowing your loved one several excursions over the next year!
READ MORE: Your guide to Pennsylvania-inspired gifts
Where to Find Spirit Christmas in Pennsylvania
Ever since the company that owns Spirit Halloween, the beloved shops for all things spooky that pop up across the country every fall, announced that they’d be opening a handful of Spirit Christmas stores this year, folks have been wondering where they can find one.
Pennsylvanians are in luck, because Erie is one of the lucky towns to get their own Spirit Christmas!
The Spirit Christmas store at the Millcreek Mall in Erie is an all things winter holiday pop-up shop that brings the most joyous season of the year to life. Located in the former A.C. Moore space, this store offers a wide range of Christmas decorations and apparel for people and pets.
This one stop shop stocks hundreds of ornaments, inflatables, lights, wrapping supplies, and even white elephant gifts. Visitors can find unique and whimsical items, such as holiday-themed sweaters and decor, that make perfect gifts or additions to your home.
A major draw is the opportunity to take pictures with Santa, making it a family-friendly destination. Walk-ins are welcome, and photo sessions run daily until the store’s seasonal closing.
If you’re shopping in the Erie area this season, add this destination to your list to get into the Christmas spirit and grab some last-minute essentials.
READ MORE: 7 Pennsylvania chocolatiers to support during the holidays
The Best Christmas Tree Farms in Pennsylvania
There is no shortage of Christmas tree farms in Pennsylvania. With more than 1,400 in the state (according to the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association) Pennsylvania is one of the top producers of Christmas trees, along with Oregon, North Carolina, and Michigan.
Pennsylvania’s Christmas tree farms cover about 31,000 acres total and produce a million trees each year, giving lovers of farm-fresh trees plenty of options. The farms also provide unique holiday experiences beyond simply picking a tree.
If you’re looking for just the right tree this season, consider picking one out at one of these eight Christmas tree farms:
Mytrysak Family Farms – Indiana
Indiana, just one hour east of Pittsburgh, is known as the Christmas Tree Capital of the World. The town earned the nickname in 1956, when 700,000 trees were harvested in Indiana County that year, according to the county’s own Christmas Tree Growers’ Association.
In addition to getting a fresh tree from Mytrysak Family Farms, downtown Indiana is a Christmastime destination. Jimmy Stewart, star of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was born in Indiana, and the town honors his life and career with a Jimmy Stewart museum.
Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm – Auburn
Owners Paul and Sharon Shealer were the 2022 Grand Champion Growers in the National Christmas Tree Association’s National Christmas Tree Contest. As a result, one of the farm’s 18-foot tall firs is on display at the White House. Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm won the same award in 2000. If these trees are good enough for the First Family, they should be good enough for you.
Crystal Spring Tree Farm – Lehighton
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is currently displaying a 20-foot tall Douglas fir from Crystal Spring Tree Farm. The Botek family’s 200-acre farm has produced a number of award-winning trees over the years. One was displayed at the White House, and another was a featured tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City.
Forest View Evergreen Farms – Galeton
This 200-acre property in Potter County is a century farm, which means it has been in the same family for 100 years. It is now owned and operated by the third generation. Wilbur Heuser, who founded the farm in 1925, invented and patented farm equipment. In 1992, trees from this farm surrounded the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center.
Heritage Tree Farm – Rothsville
Small but mighty, this 23-acre farm grows six different varieties, including fraser fir, Douglas fir, concolor fir, blue spruce, turkish fir, and white pine. The family hosts workshops to teach others how to make fresh wreaths from their trees.
Westlake Tree Farms – Pottstown
This tree farm provides a complete Christmas experience. Located in quaint St. Peters Village, guests can ride a wagon through this fourth-generation farm to find a Christmas tree and also visit Santa and see the train display in the barn.
Kuhn’s Tree Farm – State College
The owners and operators at Kuhn’s might be some of the most educated of all Pennsylvania tree growers. The owner, Larry, was a professor of ornamental horticulture for 30 years. The tree growers at this central PA farm pay special attention to detail, inspecting each tree as it is cut.
Yeager’s Farm and Market – Phoenixville
This is a year-round farm that has been family owned and operated for over 200 years. The Yeagers’ started growing Christmas trees in the 80s, when dairy wasn’t enough to sustain the farm. Guests can choose from seven varieties of trees and a plethora of seasonal goodies in the market.
READ MORE: 8 Christmas tree farms to visit this holiday season
