Rachel’s guide to a local holiday season: Part one
Originally published on The JOLT News on November 11, 2025
Similar to a Thanksgiving turkey, I have attempted to stuff this guide with as many thoughtful, clever and beautiful ideas for your holiday season as possible.
When we choose to include local arts into our holidays, there is a domino effect of generosity and goodwill, and the gift itself has another layer of sentimentality in keeping local businesses or artists employed.
Part one contain ideas for giftgiving, holiday meal grocery shopping, and where you can buy Christmas cards and holiday decorations. The majority of these ideas can be customized to whatever holiday your family celebrates this time of year.
May this list of suggestions create new traditions for you and your loved ones, ease your holiday shopping experience, and allow you to connect to the heart of the season.
General ideas
This list includes my favorite places to shop, but I invite you to take a day and explore downtown and beyond, and peek into those shops that catch your eye.
Find Christmas cards at most local shops or markets. I’ll say my favorite Christmas cards this season are by artists Roxanna Groves and Karen Abel-Dickinson. You can buy Groves cards at Lighthouse Antiques and Crafts Mall, and Abel-Dickinson’s cards on her website.
Planning a holiday meal? Get groceries locally at the farmers market, Ralph’s, Bayview Thriftway or Haggen.
The Olympia Farmer’s Market is a hub for a variety of local artists and artisans, selling meaningful gifts, cards, ornaments and more.
Many local schools and businesses will be hosting craft fairs this year. I’m not up-to-date on all of them myself, but I typically discover these events on various Facebook pages or the JOLT’s event calendar.
Lucy Gentry of LGM Studios is hosting a Contemporary Arts and Crafts Market for two weekends on Dec. 5-14. Fridays from 5-8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. See the map and it’s caption for more details.
Fill your stockings this year with candy from Lolli Llama or Encore Chocolate and Teas.
When in doubt, a gift card to a local coffee shop, bakery or restaurant are thoughtful and delightful.
For the items on a wishlist
The places listed here might help you find those wish list items, but also allow you to support local.
Browsers Bookshop has something for everyone, including a stock with books you’d initially think to find at Barnes & Noble, along with titles by local authors.
Check out Rainy Day Records or Lantern Records for CDs and vinyl. Rainy Day also has DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
Looking for jewelry? Shop according to taste. Personally, I love Super Silver Olympia, Lark, Hot Toddy, Compass Rose or Pickers in Paradise. Again, you can find a variety of jewelry at the farmers market.
Captain Little is a great place to find toys, especially those that seem to be trending. Their stock is full of whimsical and fun things that anyone can enjoy.
For specific people
Lynette Charters has two books, one of her Missing Women's and Parents Series and the other for her Matilda Series, which was just published. Read more about the two series in the article I wrote about her earlier this year. Each book includes 44 pieces and the stories behind each historical figure discussed. Charters would give the books a PG-13 rating, depending on individual sensitivity. Both books can be purchased at the LGM Studios fair or directly from Charters. Missing Women and Parents can be found at Childhoods End Gallery (Matilda will be available there soon).
Looking for a gift for kids isn’t just toys or books? I highly recommend getting tickets for a show at Olympia Family Theatre or browsing through the diverse programming offered at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. There are also great cooking classes geared for children at Bayview School of Cooking.
Need to find something romantic? Give the gift of a planned out date night. This can include tickets to a show at the Harlequin Theatre, Washington Center, Olympia Little Theatre and Olympia Film Society. Get a restaurant gift card for places like La Gitana, McMenamins Spar Cafe, Basilico Ristorante, Valentina’s, Da Nang and more before the show.
Gifts for parents: indeed a cause near to my heart, I found that the gift of experiences and opportunities to spend time together are very meaningful. I encourage you to get tickets to a show, cooking class, painting class, dancing class or ceramics class. Opportunities for any of these are bountiful in our county.
https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/rachels-guide-to-a-local-holiday-season-part-one,27009?