Can you believe that it’s already November? With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan out what gifts to get friends and family. Luckily, the small businesses right here in Hartford have something for everyone on your list! Skip the long lines at the mall and the stressful package delays by following our Hartford gift guide below:
If you ask any mom what they want for Christmas, “quality time as a family” is a response you’ll hear over and over again. Painting with a Twist has a ton of events you can book tickets for to give mom the quality time she craves, plus a new piece of art to take home at the end of the night. Book tickets for a day of family fun or just two for a night of one-on-one bonding.
Is there a more challenging person to shop for than dads? Along with being vague about what’s on their wish list, dads are also famously slow to update their wardrobe – making them the perfect person to gift a new piece of apparel from Hartford Prints! The Pratt Street shop has a great selection of hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts featuring Hartford landmarks, CT breweries, and local sports teams. We love the retro Yard Goats tee!
Get your sip on with your sister at Hartford’s women-owned distillery! Hartford Flavor Company offers tours of their distillery as well as tastings where you can enjoy an afternoon of sampling different flavors and fun cocktails featuring their housemade liqueurs. You can choose from tickets to their open tasting room or upgrade to a private room for an extra memorable experience.
In the history of the holidays, no one has been disappointed to find alcohol under the tree, especially when the alcohol is from one of Hartford’s craft breweries. Hog River always has some fantastic seasonal stouts this time of year, plus a variety of IPA’s and other popular brews, ensuring there’s an ale for everyone. If your brother is already a Hog River fan, consider gifting him a membership to their Growler Club, which comes with a Hydroflask, apparel, and exclusive brewery perks.
A weekend at Hartford’s beautiful boutique hotel is the perfect gift for a significant other of any gender. Check out their offers page to browse different packages like the Romantic Getaway package, which includes chocolates, champagne, and rose petals, or the Wine and Dine package, which includes champagne and a dining credit at Max Downtown. Whether you've been together for a few months or a few decades, the Goodwin Hotel is the perfect place to have some quality R&R with your partner.
This year, you can find gifts for everyone on your list at Winterfair: Hartford’s Holiday Market. Starting on Pratt Street and stretching down to Bushnell Park, local vendors and artisans will be popping up in vacant retail spaces down Pratt and Trumbull, selling everything from baked goods to flowers and plants to streetwear and apparel. The market begins on Black Friday, and will run until New Year’s Eve. Pro tip: after grabbing all your gifts, head down to Winterfest in Bushnell Park for some free ice skating and hot chocolate!
We hope our gift guide provided you with ideas and inspiration to make this year’s holiday shopping a little less stressful. While you’re making your shopping list, don’t forget to do your part for our community and shop local whenever possible. The fantastic local shops here in Hartford have been through a lot during the past few years, and every purchase goes a long way this holiday season.
Good luck and happy shopping!
