Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, a birthday or an anniversary—gift-giving gives us an excuse to spoil friends and family while also giving us an opportunity to shop local!
Thankfully, the Omaha area is full of fun, locally made products and unique experiences you should gift this year! We rounded up a few “Totally Omaha” gift ideas to help give you a little inspiration. From a candle from Wax-Buffalo to a box of Omaha Steaks—you’ll find a plethora of great gift ideas right here.
Considered one of Omaha’s most popular coffee shops, Archetype Coffee is at the forefront of Omaha coffee culture, making sure we all know how important each step in the production process is. They roast their coffee in-house from beans grown by farmers they have personal relationships with. Stop in for a cup of Joe (and a few pastries) for yourself and leave with a new Archetype Coffee mug and a bag of freshly roasted coffee to give away!
Wax Buffalo creates high-quality, “beautifully imperfect” candles from American-made pure soy wax, high-quality essential oils, and unbleached cotton wicks. Their signature amber jar, white metal lid and white X decal is a staple decor piece for Omaha locals. Each of the candles is hand-poured in Lincoln, Nebraska but can be found in plenty of Omaha area shops and seasonal markets!
Cooking is always a great skill to have. Whether you want to learn how to impress guests at a dinner party or you are just looking to spice up your daily meals, The Grey Plume has a class for any amateur chef! Your loved one will be able to learn everything from simple knife skills to pairing food and wine. They offer a different range of classes each month, so to see the full schedule and reserve your spots online, click here.
Photo courtesy of The Cordial Cherry
The Cordial Cherry creates delicate works of art out of cream chocolate and sweet cherries that are so delicious, they even nabbed a coveted spot on Oprah’s list of her favorite things in 2013. A box of these goodies would make a fine gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, so grab a gift box and pick your cherries to create a customized present. As an added bonus, each box is adorned with a seasonal sprig to make your gift even more special.
The Omaha Symphony has been an essential resource for orchestral performances, musical entertainment and education for more than 90 years. They host concerts all year long—from holiday concerts to 80’s rock tributes—that any music lover in your life would adore! On their website, you can choose from a variety of season ticket packages or you can create your own by combining three shows you think your loved one will enjoy.
Ryan Cook and Tim Maides are just two guys who love soap and the Omaha community. In their Benson shop, they’ve combined their two passions—providing all-natural soaps and beauty products—while using as many locally sourced products as possible. From their ingredients to the product packaging, everything is created by utilizing local Nebraska small businesses, making it the most Nebraskan soap you can buy!
Do you know someone who loves craft beer? Now they can learn to make it at home! Patriot Homebrew Supply offers a wide range of beginner to advanced level courses on how to brew beer at home. Click here for their class schedule, which includes courses like Homebrewing 101, Brew in a Bag, and 3 Tier Brewing.
It’s All About Bees has a rich history dating back to the 1930s when co-owner Margi Fletcher’s grandfather started keeping bees in Homer, Nebraska. In 2000, the Fletcher family started to make and sell products made from honey and beeswax, developing their recipes using all-natural ingredients. Today you can find them at their shop in Ralston still making their food and body care products by hand, along with a wide variety of bee-themed merchandise. While you can’t go wrong with a bottle of local honey, we recommend picking up a jar of their homemade Nebraska Honey Butter to gift, which is absolutely delicious on anything.
Artifact has been crafting briefcases, bags, totes, backpacks and aprons since 2010 right here in Omaha. In 2018, Artifact found a physical home in an old stove retail shop built in 1887 and continues to make each product using domestically sourced materials whenever possible. Visit them in their vintage shop Monday-Saturday or peruse their products online!
Photo courtesy of the Orpheum Theater
There is always something great showing at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, which showcases national and local performances alike. Whether you’re a fan of Broadway musicals, comedies, jazz shows or anything in between, you’re sure to find a show worthy of your gift recipient.
The extensive menu at Soaring Wings Vineyard will please even the most discerning of palettes thanks to their large selection of dry wines, sweet wines, and even beers brewed in house. The winery has scooped up more than 200 awards since it opened to the public in 2004—and it’s not difficult to see why! Owner Jim Shaw and his family have poured so much passion and hard work into their business, which can be tasted in every sip.
Our local zoo, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, is consistently ranked as one of the best in America. If you have a parent in your life that is constantly looking for something to do with the kids—why not grab them an annual membership to this kid-approved attraction? You can purchase an online gift membership for your friends or family members on the zoo’s website.
Photo courtesy of the Nebraska Tour Company
You’ve probably already experienced a few of Omaha’s best breweries or cocktail lounges for yourself, but now you can share our incredible food scene with your loved ones with a tour from the Nebraska Tour Company! Choose between a dessert tour, a tequila tour, a brunch cocktail tour, a sushi tour, a vegan tour, and more—and taste your way through our city’s best establishments.
The Bookworm is a small Omaha gem beloved by readers for its charm and small business feel. The shelves are bursting with newly published page-turners, classic novels, colorful kids’ books and more. As for gift options, you can’t go wrong with a book from their favorite author. Or let them choose their own present by getting them a gift card!
It wouldn’t be a list of Omaha-centric gifts if we didn’t include a box of Omaha Steaks! This iconic business has been providing high-quality steaks to meat-lovers all across the world for over a hundred years. Click here to see their Christmas 2019 selections, which includes boxes full of steaks, shrimp, desserts, sides and so much more.
What Omaha-specific gifts are you planning to give out this holiday season? Let us know in the comments!
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