The holiday rush is on here in Wisconsin. 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.
The Best Holiday Gifts in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin-made and sold gifts that can be a joy to both buy and give. Browse our favorite Wisconsin gifts below, and be sure to let us know where you’re shopping locally in the state this holiday season!
READ MORE: Local goods to give this holiday season
UpNorthNews Merch
You can stuff a stocking and support local journalism at the same time by buying swag from UpNorthNews. We’ve got you covered with a tote bag and ten really cool T-shirts.
CocoVaa Chocolatier
This award-winning chocolate shop has been hand-crafting a variety of treats, including vegan and nut-free options so everyone can enjoy a sumptuous bite or two (or three), since 2018. Some decadent-sounding flavors here include Passionfruit Mango Caramel, Turkish Coffee, Blackberry Sage, and Hazelnut Praline, though this barely scratches the surface.
At the time of writing, you can only pick up CocoVaa Chocolatier’s items in-store (not online), but according to reviewers, it’s worth the trip. “Spectacular chocolates right here!! What a fantastic assortment and quality of chocolates. They make great gifts … For the kind of quality craft chocolates the prices are reasonable and affordable,” one Google reviewer wrote of the small business.
Northwoods Cheese Company
Northwoods Cheese Company’s Char-MOO-terie Board comes with an engraved cutting board, all-beef summer sausage, pepper cheese, cheddar cheese, and Swiss cheese. The company partners with several organizations to prioritize hiring people living with disabilities. Many of the boards are made by these hardworking men and women!
WiscoBoxes
These gift boxes are filled exclusively with products from Wisconsin, so you’re not only supporting one local small business (WiscoBoxes) but also many others. And these aren’t just food boxes; while there are some that feature local foods, other boxes have clothing, drinking glasses, baby products like lotion and burp cloths, and bath salts.
One quick scroll through the company’s Curated Boxes page shows just how much it has to offer—and we did see “curated” purposely. That’s because you can also build your own gift box. These come in three sizes (6×6, 10×10, and 12×15), and the price changes as you add different items to it. For example, one bottle of wine might cost $22, while another costs $28. This way, you can completely customize your box—and your price point.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to one of the Curated Boxes—after all, they’re incredibly cute for a reason. We particularly fancy the Wisco Sampler and Coffee, Wine, Chocolate boxes, but hey, we know you’re not buying it for us. These are just two of the many amazing options WiscoBoxes has to offer.
Door County Candle Company
100% of profits from the company’s Ukraine Candle benefit Razom for Ukraine, a non-profit providing on-the-ground support to families affected by the ongoing war. Christiana Gorchynsky Trapanitook over as owner of Door County Candle Company in June 2021 and launched this fundraiser just eight months later. Her goal was 30 candles: so far, she’s sold more than 80,000 and given $800,000 & counting!
READ MORE: Your guide to Wisconsin-made gifts that give back
The Best Holiday Markets in Wisconsin
Looking for even more Wisconsin gifts? Here are a few of our favorite holiday markets!
Old World Christmas Market
101 Osthoff Ave, Elkhart Lake
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from now through December 15, the Old World Christmas Market at the Osthoff Resort features a variety of vendors selling food, beverages, gifts, and more. Tickets to the Christmas market are available for purchase online and cost $7 per adult. Children under 14 may attend for free with adult ticketholders.
Wauwatosa Holiday Market
7735 Harwood Avenue, Wauwatosa
The Tosa Holiday Market is open now through December 22. Hours of operation are listed on their website here. Treat yourself to some traditional European food, shopping, and live entertainment—admission and parking are free.
Door County Christmas Market
Corner of the Past Museum, 10310 Fieldcrest Rd, Sister Bay
Artisan goods, live music, and traditional Nordic foods are the big draws for the Door County Christmas Market on December 13-15. Weekend hours can be found here, and a list of vendors can be found here. Looking for the Christmas Market’s list of food vendors? Click here.
The Best Christmas Tree Farms in Wisconsin
Still need a Christmas tree? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites from across the state!
Summers Christmas Tree Farm
4610 Rocky Dell Road, Middleton
More than 70 years ago, the Summers family planted its first seedlings at the family’s Christmas tree farm in Middleton, just 16 miles outside of Madison. Today, the Summers Christmas Tree Farm is still owned by the same family and the seedlings have grown into massive trees that go for about $80.
In addition to selling trees, the farm operates a Christmas-themed gift shop so visitors can pick up a few presents and stocking stuffers while picking out the perfect tree. The shop sells home decor as well as ornaments to place on the tree of your choosing.
Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm
300 County Highway N., Edgerton
While some Christmas tree farms have pre-cut trees that shoppers can choose from, visitors to Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm in Edgerton choose from the farm’s growing trees still firmly rooted in the ground. The farm’s trees are priced based on species, height, and fullness, ranging in price from $55 to $145.
The farm also sells wreaths, which range in size from 20 inches to 42 inches and cost from $25 to $45. While most of the farm’s wreaths are formed into a circular shape, candy cane-shaped wreaths are also sold for $25.
Muskego Choose & Cut Christmas Trees
Corner of Moorland Road and Woods Road, Muskego
The pre-cut trees at Muskego Choose & Cut Christmas Trees were grown in the northern part of the state to be sold at the Muskego-based farm, a 20-mile drive from Milwaukee. While the farm normally has a cut-your-own lot, it’s closed through 2023 to give the farm’s smaller trees an opportunity to grow more. Instead, they’re selling pre-cut Fraser fir and balsam fir trees, which start at $50.
The farm sells trees, wreaths, and festive planters through the weekend before Christmas.
Santa’s Evergreens
615 Northern Lights Trail, Hudson
Shoppers at Santa’s Evergreens, a Christmas tree farm in Hudson, can choose one of the farm’s pre-cut trees or, if they’re feeling adventurous, borrow one of the farm’s axes and chop one down themselves. The farm has 7 acres of trees for customers to choose from, pricing them by height. The farm sells more than just trees—Santa’s Evergreens also offers seasonal porch pots and 24-inch wreaths.
Not only is Santa’s Evergreens an ideal spot to pick up a Christmas tree, it’s a great location to take a Christmas card photo. The farm has two antique sleighs as well as a vintage 1950 Chevy truck with which families can pose for festive photos.
Vine’s Christmas Trees
W3579 Ridge Road, Granton
The Vine family has operated the farm where Vine’s Christmas Trees sits for more than 150 years. While it was historically operated as a beef and dairy farm, it now specializes in growing Christmas trees that sells four different types of trees: balsam fir, Fraser fir, white pine, and Canaan fir. The trees range in prices from $30 for trees that are under 5 feet tall up to $70 for trees that are more than 10 feet tall.
Located in Granton, the farm is an hour-long drive from Eau Claire and has more to offer than just Christmas trees. Visitors can take 30-minute wagon rides to and from the farm’s fields on the weekends and visit with Santa at the farm several times throughout the season.
READ MORE: Wisconsin’s best tree farms & holiday light shows
