guides

Last-Minute Erie Gifts for Everyone on Your Holiday List!

From experience gifts to foodie gifts, we have something for everyone on your list

By Kara Murphy February 20, 2020

Looking for last minute gift ideas? Check out our annual Erie's Holiday Shopping Guide. We select local businesses and organizations for our guide that offer one-of-a-kind Erie gift experiences and products -- plus they're great for those of us doing some last minute shopping!

We've broken our guide into three sections to make it easy for you to navigate: Retail gifts, foodie gifts and experience gifts. Businesses and organizations are listed alphabetically in their section.

When shopping, please let our partners know that you saw them in our Holiday Gift Guide. Their support is what allows us to offer Macaroni Kid Erie as a free resource for Erie parents.

Glass Growers Gallery

Glass Growers Gallery is the perfect spot to find your holiday gifts! A significant part of Erie's creative culture since 1974, Glass Growers is a fine art and American made crafts gallery located in the heart of downtown Erie. Glass Growers carries paintings, photographs, sculpture, prints, pottery, jewelry, blown glass, fiber, woodwork and more! From the funky to the fabulous, Glass Growers is sure to have the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Store hours are Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Glass Growers Gallery will also be open noon to 4 p.m. Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 10 E. Fifth St., 814-453-3758, glassgrowersgallery.com


The Lavender Rabbit

The Lavender Rabbit, located in Village West, is a favorite of Erie foodies. It's known for its delicious infused or flavored olive oils and vinegars (the tasting bar is always open!) But that's only part of what this lovely, locally-owned store carries. You'll also find high-end caramel sauces, jams, mustards, honeys, spreads and teas. It's the perfect spot to find a gift for a foodie in your life!

Not sure what to get? Owner Susan Marshall makes it easy by creating beautiful custom gift baskets. The Lavender Rabbit is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3330 W. 26th St., 814-833-4800, thelavenderrabbit.com


Erie Food Tours

A gift certificate to Erie Food Tours makes the perfect gift!  Erie Food Tours leads you on a delicious tour of locally-owned restaurants, bakeries, and specialty shops -- all while teaching you about the history and culture of the Erie region. It's a super fun way to spend an afternoon. Don't just take our word for it: Erie Food Tours is ranked in the top 10 of things to do in Erie on TripAdvisor!

Their guided three-hour tour routes include: “The Original” Downtown Erie Food Tour; the Historic North East Food Tour; the Happy “APPY” Food Tour (appetizers and alcohol!).

Erie Food Tours, started by Erie mom and teacher Kelly Karns, sells gift certificates that never expire. Plus, you can buy gift certificates right off their website, making it an easy way to check off a gift for the foodies on your list! eriefoodtours.com 


Great Lakes Bar & Grill Club

The Great Lakes Bar & Grill Club membership is a card that entitles the user to one free entrée with the purchase of one entrée of equal or greater value at more than a dozen local restaurants throughout the 2020 calendar year, excluding holidays and weekends (Some restaurants participate with their own special offers and restrictions. See card for details.) At only $25, this is a great gift for family, friends or coworkers -- all while supporting local restaurants all year long! You can buy cards right on the Great Lakes Bar & Grill website! greatlakesbarandgrill.com

Icing on the Lake

If you're looking for a special dessert for the holidays, Icing on the Lake is the place to be: You can custom order artistic cupcakes, cakes and cookies, or buy French macaroons, cake pops and pastries -- all made on site. Delight holiday guests with a tray from Icing on the Lake, or stick a gift certificate to the store into a stocking -- it'll be sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone with a sweet tooth! 

Icing on the Lake, owned by Erie couple Heidi and John Fette, is located under the arch in West Erie Plaza. Check out a gallery of their artistic selections on their website. 940 West Erie Plaza, 814-464-0528 icingonthelake.com

Coventina Day Spa

Looking for a gift that will make mom melt with happiness? Give her the gift of rest and relaxation with the finest in massages, body treatments, facials and spa treatments at Coventina Day Spa, Erie’s oasis of tranquility. Gift givers can choose from a variety of individual services or treat mom to a spa package for the ultimate spa experience! 

All of Coventina's services and packages are available as spa gift certificates. Owner Megan Richter has made it easy by giving you the option to purchase them online! 10747 Peach St., 814-796-9038, coventina.com

Erie Art Museum

A membership to the Erie Art Museum makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the art lover in your life -- no matter what their age! 

Located downtown, the Erie Art Museum likely has a little more than you would expect from a smaller, regional art museum. The Museum houses a collection of over 8,000 objects—a mix of local/regional art plus work by some of the biggest names in art history, such as Whistler, Picasso, Stieglitz, Nevelson, Calder, etc.

 The Museum also offers a slew of programs ranging from art history lectures to art classes and even live music on Thursday and Friday nights. There's also plenty of family-friendly fun, from second Sunday events to the annual Kids as Curators exhibit. Memberships available online or by stopping in. 20 E. Fifth St., 814-459-5477, erieartmuseum.org


Escape Game Erie

Escape Game Erie is the ultimate in experience gifts! 

🌟In fact, TripAdvisor says Escape Game Erie is No. 1 in the category of fun activities in Erie‎!🌟

Escape Game Erie is an interactive experience is designed as pure entertainment for everyone! Players immerse themselves in a fictional scenario where the outcome is anything but certain. However, unlike being the passive observer at a movie or play, you are the center of attention! 

A gift certificate to Escape Game Erie is sure to be a hit. Recipients can choose from six themes: Axe Murder Hollow, Escape The Niagara, Federal Treasure, Forgotten Government Laboratory, Abducted, and Da Vinci's Secret.

Want a gift certificate for the holidays? You can order one right online! 23 W 10th Street and 4838 W Ridge Road, 814-580-9905, escaperoomerie.com

ExpERIEnce Children's Museum

Give the gift of play this holiday season! An ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum membership is the perfect gift for a special child or family in your life.

A gift of membership to the expERIEnce Children’s Museum give families year-round fun! The museum offers three floors of indoor play and an outdoor classroom, which means the whole family has the space to explore, create and imagine. Members not only receive free daily admission to the museum, but also receive special discounts on birthday parties, educational programming, special events and in the gift shop (a perfect place to stock up on stocking stuffers!).

Find out more about the museum, or buy a membership online! You can also stop in and pick one up during regular hours. 420 French St., 814- 453-3743, eriechildrensmuseum.org

Want to be included in our Holiday Gift Guide? Reach out today to karam@macaronikid.com!

πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„







Erie Mom Boss Marketplace