Wrapped Late, Still Great: Local gifts that deliver.
The clock is ticking on the holiday season, which means it feels like time is running out to purchase a thoughtful gift for the people on your list. It’s a very relatable place to be, especially this year, with a “late” Thanksgiving delaying the official kick off to the holiday shopping season.
Deep breath, though. Hope is not lost. Procrastination and just plain busy schedules will not relegate you to the hapless gifting purgatory that is Visa gift cards.
There are still ways to snag gifts that will be meaningful to the person receiving it and to the local businesses you support. Remember, shopping local means your gift gives back by keeping money in the local economy and supporting the hardworking entrepreneurs that are truly the foundations of communities across the state.
If you still have some shopping to do, and even if you haven’t even started yet, we have some judgement-free options on how to keep your holiday spending local while completing your last-minute list.
Who knew you’d end up in a win-win situation this close to the holidays?
Local Gift Cards
There is no shame in giving gift cards, although sometimes when time is running out, a generic gift card can feel like a get-out-of-jail-free card. Gift cards to local destinations, though, give a different energy.
They express that you’ve thought about the person’s interests, you care about the local economy and the local businesses making it run, and that you wanted to make sure the person receiving it knows they are special to you. And let’s just say you don’t necessarily know what the person on the receiving end is interested in, sharing one of your favorite spots is always a winning formula.
Giving local gift cards is easier than it might sound. Think breweries, wineries, restaurants, boutiques, salons…the list goes on and on. If it’s local, there’s a way to treat someone you care about to experience it.
Snacks and Drinks
All hail the gift basket, which has enjoyed serious staying power from one holiday season to the next. Loading a basket full of your favorite local finds and giving that basket as a gift is a creative and tasty way to share the holidays with the people you love.
Also, it requires minimal wrapping. Maybe a bow. So, it’s a clutch time-saving idea during a time-starved time of year.
Picture a basket with a loaf of artisan sourdough from Proof Bread, paired with oils from The Queen Creek Olive Mill, a handful of fresh herbs from your most recent farmer’s market visit and a bottle of wine from Javelina Leap, Caduceus Cellars or Dos Cabezas.
Not one person would feel like that last-minute gift was in any way thoughtless.
Hit The Holiday Markets
This time of year, holiday markets are held all over the state, with an abundance in and around the metro areas. Some happen weekend after weekend, while others are one-and-done, so you need to be Johnny-on-the-spot or run into a bit of serendipity and simply find yourself in the right place at the right time.
Here are a few to keep an eye out for.
A Very Vintage Christmas: Held Dec. 5-7 at Rawhide Event Center, 5244 N. 48th Street in Chandler. The market features clothing, antiques, jewelry, home decor and beyond. Learn more here.
Mesa Christmas Market: Held Dec. 12-14 at 440 E. Main Street, Mesa. Visit vendors and experience the Mesa Santa Express, which is a festive, decorated light rail car with Santa on board. Learn more here.
Phoestivus: Held Dec. 12 at the Arizona Center, 455 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix. Explore the holiday market that an elf has claimed is the best in the Valley. This one-day market features 175 local vendors. Learn more here.
The Mercantile Market: Held Dec. 13-14 at Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. Mingle with Santa, among a beer and wine garden and in between dozens vendors and local experiences, like jewelry and hat bars. Learn more here.
Winter Market: Held Dec. 14 at The Historic Ice House, 201 E. Birch Ave., Flagstaff. Grab a cup of free hot chocolate and peruse a market filled with local artisans and artists. Learn more here.
Christkindlemarket: Held Dec. 14-15 on W. Goodwin Street, Prescott. Explore a festive Christmas market, visit with Santa and enjoy local eats at this annual market. Learn more here.
Reserve An Experience
By giving the gift of an experience to someone you love, you let them know you’ve thought about their interests, you’ve extended the holiday season and you’re supporting local institutions. Music lovers may appreciate tickets to a show at a local venue or a day pass to the Musical Instrument Museum. Art lovers may appreciate a new show at Phoenix Art Museum or Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts, while outdoor enthusiasts may appreciate a guided tour someplace they’ve never been. Animal lovers may appreciate a visit to a zoo or sanctuary while bibliophiles may go crazy for a ticket to a book signing or speaker series. And foodies? Tickets to the 2026 Devour Culinary Classic can’t be beat (if there are any available)!
When you start considering experiences as a gift, the options are seemingly limitless.
See? Last minute doesn’t mean no thought. It just means the calendar is running at a faster pace than you can keep up with, and that’s okay, because there are so many ways to keep your gift giving local even as time runs out.
