Gifts with a Story: Holiday Shopping in Gettysburg & Adams County

By: Tina Klym-Snyder

This Christmas, if you love Gettysburg, give Gettysburg.

This holiday season, plan a getaway to Gettysburg and discover how giving local makes every gift more meaningful. In the season of giving, what better way to show your love of something than by sharing it? And in Adams County, there’s so much to share. From handmade confections, handpicked produce, and heirloom artifacts to dazzling jewelry, stylish décor, charming pop culture, and immersive gaming, From charming downtown boutiques and artisan shops to countryside farm markets and small-town antiques, Gettysburg and Adams County invite visitors to experience the joy of shopping local.

Downtown Holiday Shopping – Lincoln Square to Steinwehr Avenue

Start your holiday shopping adventure right in the heart of historic Gettysburg. Under the glow of the town’s twinkling Christmas lights, Lincoln Square and Steinwehr Avenue come alive with festive décor, music, and friendly shopkeepers ready to help you find something to enchant everyone on your Nice List. Browse independent boutiques, family-owned shops, and artisan galleries offering one-of-a-kind gifts: handmade confections, fine jewelry, stylish décor, locally crafted art, and cozy winter accessories.

Bundle up, hit the sidewalk, and indulge the chocolate lover, entertain the musician, adorn the millinophile, bedeck the fashionista, or wow the collector. The diverse shops and boutiques in Gettysburg offer all that and more: exclusive German, Irish, and Russian imports, locally crafted wines and spirits, bath bombs and soaps, original local art, metaphysical and mystical accessories, stocking stuffer kitsch, hand painted pottery, and unconventional collectible curiosities.

Warm up between stops with a hot drink at a local café or explore pop up markets during A Gettysburg Christmas Festival, where carolers and holiday cheer fill the streets. It’s the perfect way to combine shopping, dining, and a little bit of holiday magic during your winter getaway.

Small-Town Treasures Beyond Gettysburg – Biglerville, Fairfield, and More

While Gettysburg borough itself encompasses less than two square miles, Adams County comprises 522 miles of mostly agricultural land sprinkled with charming surrounding small towns: Biglerville, Cashtown, East Berlin, Fairfield, New Oxford, and York Springs shine bright during the holidays. Each offers unique shops, antique stores, and art studios that make perfect stops for a day trip or weekend shopping tour. Delight friends and family with gifts that can only be found here, hand-crafted jewelry, original local art, charming garden décor, or Pennsylvania-made wines.

Make it a scenic drive: roll through the countryside between stops and enjoy the peaceful beauty of winter in Adams County.

Farm Markets and Orchard Gifts – The True Taste of Adams County

Just beyond the borough, Adams County’s rolling farmlands hide some of the area’s most authentic treasures. Apple Country may be quiet in winter, but its farm markets are filled with flavors of the season. Wander Adams County’s seemingly vast expanse of orchards, meadows, and fields to find bountiful family-owned farm markets.

With over 20,000 acres of fruit orchards, the fields lie silent and still in the winter doldrums, but the markets they sustain offer the true flavors of Adams County. Shop local at family-owned farm markets for gourmet food gifts and handmade goods: jam, jellies, and preserves; relishes, pickles, and salsas; sauces, honeys, and dressings; baking mixes and soup starters. Many farm markets also feature boutiques with items like humorous dish towels and aprons, cookbooks, art prints, kitchen accessories, bath and body products, and other small gifts perfect for stockings or host gifts.

Don’t forget to take home a taste of Gettysburg yourself or have Adams County apples and treats shipped right to your favorite holiday recipient’s door.

Wrap Up the Season – Give Local, Give Gettysburg

So, whether they are quartered in historic buildings with handsome facades, hidden in charming nearby towns, or nestled in bucolic orchards across the countryside, local shops, boutiques, and markets offer something unique and irresistible: an authentic taste of Adams County.

Each year, Gettysburg and Adams County merchants come together to offer special holiday experiences like the Merry Markets Trail, a fun way to explore participating shops, discover exclusive offers, and collect seasonal surprises along the way. Whether you’re following the trail or simply wandering at your own pace, it’s an inspiring way to connect with the community and find one-of-a-kind gifts.

Plan your holiday shopping in Gettysburg and discover how local charm, craftsmanship, and community spirit make every gift unforgettable. In the season of giving, celebrate it, savor it, share it.

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