Local Holiday Gift Guide
The holiday season is upon us! Whether you're getting started on your seasonal shopping, or you're hunting down a final gift for that person who's impossible to shop for, we're here to help check those items off your list in true Santa fashion!
Holiday Shopping at the Royal Alberta Museum
As the largest museum in Western Canada, there’s no doubt that the Royal Alberta Museum is a must-see on the list of Edmonton attractions. What you may not know, however, is that the Museum Shop tucked inside the building’s front entrance is an attraction worth visiting in its own right. Inside, the aesthetic shelves are stocked with hand selected items from hundreds of local and Indigenous vendors, making it a perfect place for any conscientious shopper to support local this holiday season.
Browse the categories from A-Z – art to zoology – to find some pretty RAM magical gifts! Got a nature nerd on your list? Check out their wide collection of books on everything nature. Know someone that loves tea? They’ll point you to a shelf of gorgeous, hand crafted mugs, or locally sourced tea blends. For even more gifting inspiration, click through their 2022 Holiday Gift Guide.
The JUNOs Are Coming
In case you haven't heard, The JUNO Awards are coming to Edmonton in March 2023! Nickelback and Tate McRae will take the stage in their home province, and with Simu Liu hosting, you know this will be an event to remember. Bring your friends, family, or someone special for an iconic Canadian evening. Looking for a unique way to gift an experience this year? This is your ticket, literally!
Local Brews
Edmonton's coffee shops come in every size and flavour, and many of these local café joints offer bags of beans to brew at home. Some of our recommendations for local bagged coffee include Transcend Coffee & Roastery, ACE Coffee Roasters, Iconoclast Coffee Roasters, Grizzlar Coffee & Records, and Candid Coffee Roasters. These businesses also offer online purchases!
Whiskeyjack Art House
Whiskeyjack Art House is an Indigenous owned and operated arts boutique that supports Indigenous arts, artisans, and cultural experiences, as well as local businesses! Walk through the gallery space which features visual stories of profound Indigenous art. For shopping, you can find:
- Indigenous contemporary art
- Indigenous traditional arts
- Indigenous made jewelry and gifts
- Indigenous and locally sourced products (tea, honey, jams, soaps, blankets)
Don't forget to grab a delicious bite from Pei Pei Chei Ow before you leave!
Holiday Markets
Enjoy the festivities while taking care of your shopping! The Edmonton Christmas Market at Fort Edmonton Park features local Alberta vendors, captivating light displays, unique culinary experiences, roving performances, festive live theatre, family-friendly workshops, tasty treats, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a healthy dollop of holiday cheer. You also won't want to miss A Very Indigenous Holiday Market at various locations in Edmonton this December!
Hideout Distro
Hideout Distro is the perfect stop when looking for a local gift! Stocked up for the holiday season with special deals, it's never been a better time to pay this shop a visit. You'll even find the perfect stocking stuffers including candles and other home goods, accessories, bath and body care, and much more.
West Edmonton Mall
Happy haul-idays! West Edmonton Mall is the Mt. Everest of shopping and indoor entertainment in North America. Spanning the equivalent of 48 city blocks, this mall has it all. No matter what's on your shopping list, you'll be able to check most of your items off at this one-stop shopping, dining and entertainment destination.
YEG Box Co.
For the gift giver who likes zero hassle, YEG Box Co. carefully chooses and curates collections of quality products from local artisans in the Edmonton area. This is the most convenient way to grab some local goodies for a special someone! Choose from a variety of collections including the Taste of YEG Box, the Sweet Box, and more. Plus, they are beautifully packaged – no gift wrapping necessary.
Antisocial Running Club
Founded in early 2020, the Antisocial Running Club was born with the purpose of encouraging everyone to stay active and connected through Strava during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through collaborations with local running clubs, restaurants, and other brands in various markets, ASRC is committed to fostering a running community that encourages one another to stay active. They also sell some beautiful merch! Right now, you can purchase two ASRC beanies for $30 (regularly $25 each).
Give the Gift of Music
If you want to skip the big box stores, take a gander at the upcoming shows at the Winspear! Be your own symphonic Santa and compose the perfect gift filled with musical memories. The guide is organized into categories, making it that much easier to find the perfect gift for someone special, kids, stocking stuffers (under $50), and more!
TGIF
TGIF Tees Toys Tapes & Games is a blast from the past with products celebrating the nostalgia of the 90s and beyond! In addition to its apparel and collectibles available online and in-store, they have also revived the lost tradition of movie rentals! You can find an extensive collection of VHS and VCRs, as well as retro video games and video game consoles for purchase or rental.
Local Eats
Edmonton is a culinary hot spot in Canada, which makes dinner or a gift card to a local eatery an easy gift choice! Download the Explore Edmonton Downtown Dining Pass to discover the core's legendary local restaurants, the Explore Edmonton Old Strathcona Dining Pass to experience the bohemian spirit of Whyte Avenue, or the Explore Edmonton Brewery Pass for discounts to the best brewhouses in town!
The Famous Green Onion Cake
Speaking of great local eats, a fabulous takeaway option is the Edmonton-famous green onion cakes! An Edmonton staple since 1980, no visit to the city is complete without a visit to Siu To, also known as the Green Onion Cake Man. A local celebrity, he immigrated to Canada in 1978 and when he opened his first restaurant, Happy Garden, in 1980 his green onion cakes made him famous. You can now buy them frozen and make them at home, or gift them as a unique holiday snack!
Tomato Wheels Lambrusco
Tomato Wheels Lambrusco was founded by Moirae Choquette, an Indigenous Entrepreneur on a mission to use business as a force for good. Moirae fell in love with Lambrusco while visiting Italy in 2015, and was drawn to its low alcohol content. Since the selection of Lambrusco in Canada was limited, Moirae decided to make her own! Every product and project at Tomato Wheels Lambrusco is guided by the company's mission to do good through business. Try a bottle for your holiday celebrations!
Score Some Great Deals
You don't have to break your piggy bank to score some amazing deals on gifts this year. Find the big brand names without the big price when you swing by the Premium Outlet Collection at the YEG International Airport! Shopping with kids? Visit the Royal Outlet Express from December 1-24 (Wednesday-Sunday) to enjoy train rides with Santa!