Shop local this holiday season with this list of brands, businesses and nonprofits to support! From handmade treasures to unforgettable experience gifts and wallet-friendly finds, use this guide to check off your “nice” list while uplifting the local DMV community.
Notes: Affiliate links used in this blog are indicated. Follow the links in blue text for additional information on each product or service described.
None of the businesses mentioned have paid for features. All opinions are of my own.
In this Guide
Where to Shop
Local Holiday Markets
Washington, DC
- 11/21 – 12/23 | DowntownDC Holiday Market on F Street NW (Between 7th and 9th streets NW)
- 100+ vendors! Open daily but closed on Thanksgiving Day. It’s best to take the metro to Gallery Place-Chinatown on the red, yellow & green lines.
- 12/13 at 12:00 pm | Umoja Market 2025 at Anacostia Arts Center in SE
- Discover unique, handcrafted goods made by talented local artisans, entrepreneurs, and makers who pour passion and purpose into everything they create.
- 12/14 at 11:00 am | Make It! Mt. Pleasant Holiday Market at Lamont Plaza in NW
- Includes 60+ artists and artisans, an Author’s Alley, craft table, 2 dozen restaurants, carolers & Santa for photos and gifts to children!
Maryland
- 11/29 – 12/21 weekends at 12:00 pm | National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show
- Rotating selection of talented artisans and crafters, along with an array of delectable holiday sweets and desserts. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, discover one-of-a-kind treasures, and enjoy delightful treats.
- 12/13 at 11:00 am | Holiday Craft Fair at Brentwood Arts Exchange
- Shop over a dozen local artisans showcasing their handcrafted goods. Discover unique gifts, enjoy live music, and sip on seasonal favorites from Maryland Meadworks.
- 12/13 at 12:00 pm | Long Branch Winter Mercado on Flower Ave. in Silver Spring
Northern Virginia
- 12/12 – 12/13 at 5:00 pm | Water Park Neighborhood Holiday Market at National Landing in Arlington
- Includes festive food, drinks, live music, shopping & family fun!
- 12/12 – 12/15 | Gustave Marché de Noël Gift Market at Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie in Alexandria
- Experience European-style holiday magic at Gustave Marché de Noël! Artisan gifts, festive treats, Santa photos, pony rides & more. Pony rides are $10 per child younger than 10 and weighing less than 90 pounds.
- 12/13 at 11:00 am | Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show
- Includes photos with Santa & a kids ornament creation station
Stores to Explore
- Child’s Play Toys & Books in NW DC, Arlington, VA & McLean, VA
- Toys & books for kids of all ages & has some trendy toys like Jellycat and Maileg
- Dov & Company at Cabin John Village in North Bethesda, MD
- Dominican-woman owned boutique with handmade, unique small gift items + crafting kits; tween – young adult feminine gifts!
- Luxury Guilt in Bowie, MD
- Black-woman owned clothing boutique with unique + trendy items for girls & boys
Book Stores
- Sankofa Café Video & Books in NW DC
- Many, many picture books and non-fiction/history based reads for kids! Their store has a full wall and other displays full of children’s books.
- Mahogany Books at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD
- Great variety of bestsellers + few local authors for kids of all ages + teen reads
- Old Town Book Junior in Old Town Alexandria, VA
- An entire bookstore wing dedicated to children’s book and small gifts! Plenty of bestsellers and cult classics for kids of all ages. They also have an upcoming Kids Gift Guide Live on Friday, November 21st where they’ll walk you through popular gifts for kids.
Local Feature: Laces & Pages
Online Boutique Laces & Pages is a book & sneaker based shop out of Virginia. Owned by Desireé & Gary, Laces and Pages was created to intertwine Desireé’s interest in literature and Gary’s interest in art through fashion; hence, Laces is for fashion and Pages is for books. You may have seen some book recommendations of Laces & Pages through our weekly line-up of weekend happenings. Top holiday gifts include:
- The Black Experience Preschool Bundle – $49.99
- This bundle, perfect for ages baby to 4, includes only board books—designed for little hands to explore, turn pages, and enjoy over and over again.
- The Black Experience Elementary Bundle – $49.99
- This bundle, made for ages 4-9, includes hardcover picture books filled with powerful stories about Black history, culture, and joy.
- The Black Experience Middle School Bundle – $49.99
- For ages 9-13, this bundle is packed with hardcover books that make history, culture, and identity real and relatable.
"At Laces & Pages, we believe in filling bookshelves with stories that remind Black children they are seen, loved, and limitless."
Books by Local Authors We Love
- “Soulful Holidays” by Ciara L. Hill (Maryland)
- An inclusive rhyming story celebrating the joys of Christmas and Kwanzaa. Also available: “Shiloh and Dande the Lion”, “Cocoa Mistletoe” & “Thank Fall”
- “Sage Does Pilates” by Clarissa Shepherd (Sterling, VA)
- Also available the Sage Does Pilates doll & for pre-order: “Babies & Barre” ABC book
"Become the best version of you through movement and literature."
Local Brands to Consider
Meet Kemi Tignor, Founder & CEO of Upbounders®, toys that celebrate children and their everyday world. This DC-based toy company has had products sold in many stores including Nordstrom and museums around DC like The Phillips Collection. They even had miniature versions included in Chic-fil-a kids meals a small while ago! We have a few Upbounders products that we love including puzzles, games & books. Top holiday gifts include:
- My Clever Kicks™ – Color Matching Magnetic Busy Board (18m+) – $13.99
- A vibrant, screen-free activity that blends play with purpose. This sneaker-inspired magnetic maze invites toddlers to match colors using a magnetic wand—helping a playful kangaroo deliver colorful balls to the right pair of kicks.
- Feeding Time! Busy Board – Zoo Animal Magnetic Maze (18m+) – $13.99
- A vibrant maze toy that puts toddlers in charge of feeding their favorite zoo animals! Little ones take on the role of a caring veterinarian, guiding magnetic food balls to animals in need of a snack—all while building critical early learning skills.
- Be You Rainbow Kicks – 48pc Wooden Tray Puzzle (Ages 4+) – $24.99
- A 48-piece FSC wooden tray puzzle featuring multicultural kids in colorful sneakers with playful zoo animals.
SCOUT Bags is one of my favorite DC-based brands, from the funky prints to the versatility of the bags. They’re a gift within a gift; you can purchase them as gift bags to place gifts in that can then be reused for many different purposes from grocery bags to storage and everything in-between. Make sure to peep their holiday promotions for great deals throughout the season. Make sure to use code SARAH15 for an extra 15% off on items without an existing promo! Top holiday gifts include:
- 4 Boys Zip Tote XXL – the biggest bag they make that can be used for storage among other utility uses
- Ben Pocket Tote – their largest tote bag with 5 pockets
- Packin’ Heat Toiletry Bag – medium sized beauty bag with interior slip pocket.
Meet Cemeré James, Founder and CEO, Intangible Treasures, gifts that honor, celebrate, and preserve legacy. Based in Temple Hills, MD, Cemeré is on a mission to elevate non-financial wealth and honor the legacies that live in our stories, values, and spirit. Her products include children’s books, family yearbooks, recipe books, sentimental gifts & more! Top holiday gifts include:
- Illustrated Holiday and Thank You Cards – $150+
- Celebrate the holidays and spread love with a customized card from a few photos and comments you submit. These are great for holidays and/or special occasions.
- Treasure Boxes with Loving Affirmations for adults and children – $45
- Each beautifully designed set holds a collection of daily affirmations crafted to quiet self-criticism and awaken the power of self-love.
- Legacy Cultivation Session – $375
- Legacy Cultivation is a spiritually guided coaching experience for legacy builders—family leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries—who want to reflect deeply and live intentionally. Includes four 90-minute sessions + a customized digital legacy journal filled with your session insights, key themes from your life story, and powerful reflection prompts to continue your legacy journey.
Experience Gifts
Theater & Show Tickets
- 12/30 – 1/4 | Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical at The National Theatre in DC
- Tickets are $60+ per person
- 1/21 – 1/22 | Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! at The National Theatre in DC
- Tickets are $40+ per person
- 1/30 – 2/8 | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Warner Theatre in DC
- Tickets are $60+ per person
Local Feature: Imagination Stage
The best in Children’s Theater of the DMV lives in Bethesda, MD and goes by Imagination Stage. I highly recommend their shows for tots – tweens and their classes for all ages. Tickets to shows are typically the lowest you’ll find for professional theater in the area and there’s a variety of shows to choose from, season to season. Top holiday gifts include:
- Tickets to The Snowman and the Snowdog, which is on stage November 22 – January 4
- $15+ per person & best for ages 4-10
- Winter & Spring Classes for all ages
- Gift Cards for future classes and performances
Birthday Party Rentals
- Movie Party at The Historic Miracle Theatre in SE
- Birthday Packages for $11 per person that includes snack packs. Minimum of 20 guests. Private rentals also available.
- Teepee Jamboree Mobile Slumber Parties
- Stress-free, luxury sleepover setups – $40 retainer fee & packages starting at $425
Local Travel
- Great Wolf Lodge Maryland in Perryville, MD
- Current promotions: Early Black Friday = 40% off stays booked by 11/16 & Early Saver Deal = 50% stays after 1/9/2026 – See the 4DMV Kid’s Guide to plan your trip!
- Guess Where Trips *affiliate link*
- One-day mystery roadtrips with 5 options within 50 miles of Washington, DC. We took one of these trips, visited places I never knew existed & had wonderful family time.
Adult Gift Recommendations
Date Night – Intimate Concerts by an Artist in Residence at Strathmore in North Bethesda (Rockville), MD | I attended the debut concert in November and really enjoyed the mix of musical talent. Here’s background on each artist set to perform with a coinciding workshop beginning in January 2026. My favorite artists include Cyrus Mackey on trumpet, Chris Hon on keyboard & Kanysha as a vocalist. Tickets for each individual concert go on sale Friday, November 21st!
Date Night – Pour Decisions: An Elevated Fragrance & Candle Making Experience at Wigenton Candle Co. at National Harbor | Nate and I had a date night here a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the experience. It was a BYO wine session that included holiday scents. In January, holiday scents will be switched for winter scents among several classic scents as well. You can mix up to two scents in an 8 oz. candle. Price: $48 per candle.
Gifts for New Moms – Kindred Bravely, maternity and breastfeeding basics apparel brand focused on providing comfortable and functional clothing, thoughtfully crafted for soon-to-be/new mothers | Not a local brand but a great brand that I tried recently. They sent me a sample of their Everly Wireless Contour Bra, which is a non-nursing bra and let me tell you, game changer! Super comfortable & light-weight – I forget I’m wearing one which is huge for me, haha.
Thanks for tuning into our first annual holiday guide featuring some of our favorite local brands, businesses and places to visit!
