The Banner’s 2025 holiday gift guide

The gift of news

Share local stories that matter with a Banner gift subscription. Readers get unlimited access to in-depth reporting, investigations and neighborhood news. A thoughtful gift for anyone who loves Maryland and wants to stay informed and connected.

Kids’ sketchbook

Packed with character and durability, this handmade journal is made for pocket-sized adventures, whether you’re at a beach, city park, zoo, or your own backyard.

Maryland-inspired dog treats

This Baltimore-made gift box includes all-natural, oven-baked treats like Chicken Crab & Corn, Duck Biscuits, Bison Jerky and a vanilla ice cream mix for your pup. Healthy, low-calorie and preservative-free, perfect for dogs of all sizes and ages.

Giving Guide 2025

For many, the holiday season is about buying gifts, attending parties and baking cookies. However, the holidays are also a great time to give back to those less fortunate.

DIY flower ornament

Create an elegant keepsake with this pressed-flower ornament kit. Each set includes real blooms, clear acrylic shapes and easy-to-follow instructions, making it perfect for a cozy craft night or a thoughtful stocking stuffer for someone who loves nature and handmade touches.

Balmer cacao butter lip balm sampler

Balmer lip balm blends rich cacao butter with all-natural ingredients for soft, hydrated lips. Packaged in a compostable paper tube, it’s an eco-friendly essential that feels as good as it looks: simple, local, and beautifully made.

Rocklands Farm Winery

Located in Poolesville, Rocklands Farm Winery is a family-owned farm that produces handcrafted wines on a rotating menu. Options include reds, whites, rosé, sparkling and orange.

— Danielle Allentuck, sports reporter

Turn your house into art

There’s no place like home for the holidays. Commission a custom illustration of your Baltimore rowhome from Pop Baltimore. This local artist will turn your residence into cheerful greeting cards, postcards or sticker packs.

— Lillian Reed, Howard County reporter

All-natural dog treats

Wholesome ingredients, no additives. The treats from Baltimore Dog Bakery will make any pup happy.

Charm City silk screen

Baltimore is full of history, icons and stories. This four-color silk screen poster illustrates the Bromo Seltzer Tower, the Domino Sugars sign, Thames Street, the Patterson Park Pagoda and the famous city benches.

Beard kit

The Five O’ Clock beard kit is up to all their grooming needs. The products are local and smell great, at an affordable price point.

Magnesium lotion

The Calm Your Ass Down Magnesium Body Lotion by SoBotanical helps soothe tired nerves and promotes relaxation.

— Sarah Walton, chief philanthropy officer

Snowball stand print

A print celebrating one of the summer’s greatest joys in Baltimore — snowballs! Printed on acid-free paper and signed by the artist, it arrives ready to frame and wrapped in a biodegradable sleeve, perfect for Baltimore nostalgia lovers and art enthusiasts alike.

Death by Chocolate

Turn up the heat with Black Eyed Susan’s Death by Chocolate hot sauce. This Maryland-made blend is a perfect stocking stuffer for spice lovers who crave something unexpected.

Floating forest art

Bring a little forest magic inside. This unique wall-hanging art piece pairs genuine cork bark with plush preserved moss and forest-inspired mushrooms. Zero upkeep, all mood. A standout pick for someone who loves nature with a side of style.

Whipped body butter

This cream hydrates your skin and smells great. My favorite scent: Million Bucks.

— Emma Patti, former managing editor

Make your own crush

Pretend you’re down the ocean with Noble Mick’s Frozen Grapefruit Crush. Just add vodka and water, pop it in the freezer and enjoy a perfectly tangy citrus cocktail. Made with real ingredients, it’s a refreshing gift for anyone who loves an easy, crowd-pleasing drink.

The Shops at Kenilworth

Celebrate the season at The Shops at Kenilworth in Baltimore County! Discover holiday fashion, find thoughtful gifts, snap photos with Santa, explore our holiday train garden and enjoy seasonal specials all winter long.

Doggin’ Donuts

Treat your dog to something special with these mini Doggin’ Donuts from Hair of the Dog Barkery in Baltimore. Made with unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon and honey, they’re bite-size, crunchy and built for pups who love a flavorful snack between walks.

Jabot collar

This jabot collar is pleated and can be worn with a nice blouse and circle skirt or a simple tank top and shawl.

Locally smoked seafood

Located in historic Annapolis, Chesapeake Smokehouse hand-selects “the finest lumber” to carry out the ancient European tradition of smoking seafood. Among their popular products are different styles of smoked salmon and trout.

— Alex Mann, Anne Arundel County reporter

Infused honey subscription

This rotating honey subscription from Baltimore-based Hon’s Honey is truly a gift that keeps giving. In addition to a monthly jar of local, raw honey in flavors like habanero, rosemary and creamed honey, each shipment supports women survivors of trauma.

Grass-fed beef jerky

Spice up someone’s snack game with jerky that’s anything but ordinary. From deli-style pastrami to spicy merguez, Jewish Jerky Brand makes small-batch, grass-fed beef jerky with clean ingredients, no soy, no gluten and no artificial preservatives.

K-9 Cookies

K-9 Kraving Beef Cookies are a healthy, rewarding snack for dogs.

Baltimore neighborhoods print

Celebrate Baltimore in color with this hand-illustrated map print showcasing every neighborhood and city park. Printed on EcoSilk paper with soy-based inks and offered in framed and unframed sizes, it’s a stylish piece of local art.

Very Maryland’s Best Gift Guide

Finding the perfect gift can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming when you’re short on time and searching for something unique for everyone on your list. This holiday season, make your gifts memorable with the Very Maryland’s Best Gift Guide!

Shady Grove Candles

A quarantine hobby between mom and daughter during the pandemic turned into a business. Shady Grove Candles are locally sourced, hand-poured and eco-friendly. My faves are the Peppermint + Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, and Apricot + Jasmine scents.

— Ginny Bixby, government and politics reporter

Really Raw Honey

Ready to eat straight from the jar, Really Raw Honey is scooped right from the hive and not filtered, heated or strained. It’s a Baltimore-based, family-run business and has supported small beekeepers for over 40 years.

— Michael Hughes, copy editor

Afternoon tea

As a chronically cold person who always needs a warm beverage, I’ve yet to have a cup of tea from Baltimore-based, sibling-owned Wight Tea Co. that I didn’t love. Baltimore Breakfast and Fireside Fig are two of my favorites.

— Seth Lueck, director of customer acquistion

Maryland Monroe jerky

This beef jerky from Righteous Felon is kissed with a little crab spice.

Watercolor art

These hand-painted watercolor prints from Lucky Bat Paper Co. add a touch of artistry to any space. Inspired by nature and garden textures, they’re locally printed on eco-friendly paper and come in standard sizes for easy framing.

Eddie’s of Roland Park

Create holiday memories with gifts from Eddie’s of Roland Park. Discover our wonderful selection including gourmet confections, unique home goods, puzzles, host gifts and seasonal treats for any age.

Sapphire tea

Evoke summer skies and vibrant sips with this herbal loose-leaf tea blend made in Baltimore. It contains lemongrass, mango pieces, rose hips and more and has a beautiful deep blue color.

Final Fantasy apron

Saphrina Splendors offers a homemade apron, emblazoned with a baby Chocobo from Final Fantasy, suitable for artisans of any kind — whether your craft is cooking, painting or sculpting!

— Rondez Green, creator and social editor

Customized cookies or cupcakes

Sunflower Bakery in Rockville teaches developmentally disabled adults to bake and helps them get certified to work in a commercial kitchen. And you can order seasonally decorated cookies or cupcakes.

— Lauren Markoe, news editor

Smells of the shore

Bring some coastal calm to a commute. Blending sea-salt freshness with teakwood warmth, this Eastern Shore car diffuser from Sunshine + Saltwater turns every drive into a Maryland shoreline escape.

Cà Phê candle

Relish in the fragrant notes of Vietnam’s famous coffee with this Cà Phê candle.

Jimmy’s Crab Seasoning

Crafted to complement the natural sweetness of Maryland blue crabs, this bold blend of beer and vinegar flavors is a Chesapeake classic.

Locally grown herbal teas

Give your loved one a piping-hot cuppa from Heron’s Meadow Farm, one of Maryland’s few tea farms, located in Howard County. These blends are a warm gesture heading into the long winter months.

— Jess Nocera, Howard County reporter

Mr. Trash Wheel Construction Kit

Build your own miniature version of Baltimore’s beloved trash-eating icon, Mr. Trash Wheel. This laser-cut wooden kit is eco-friendly, educational and a fun gift for makers of all ages.

Cane Collective

Guava Tiki Punch transports you straight to a tropical paradise and reminds me of the fruits I grew up with in sub-Saharan Africa. While it makes a fantastic mixer with mezcal or gin, I love it best with soda water.

— Shalini Malaki, senior manager, institutional giving

Open Book Chocolates

The literary-inspired chocolate company started in Montgomery County in 2017 with flavors inspired by novels. The “A Christmas Carol” bar has hazelnuts, pear and nutmeg in dark chocolate.

— Hau Chu, food, arts and culture reporter

Vegan felt catnip toys

The colorful handmade catnip toys from Close Call Studio are made of vegan felt and filled with organic home-grown catnip and fluff. An adorable choice for curious indoor cats who need a little stimulation.

Mental health coloring book

Color your way into a deeper conversation with this 20-page Neuro Blooms coloring book. Each design is inspired by real brain scans tied to mental health conditions, paired with short facts and quotes. A thoughtful gift that blends art, awareness and self-care.

Custom stationery

Personalized snail mail is the best kind of mail! All illustrations are hand-drawn.

Merry and Bright Candle

Baltimore’s Mount Royal Soaps offers countless great-smelling goods, but its seasonal Merry and Bright 100% soy wax candle, scented with notes of apple, balsam, cinnamon and clove, is as energizing as it is cozy.

Maryland crab cakes

They’re shipped fresh on ice and arrive in perfect condition. My crab-loving stepmother swoons.

— Chris Dinsmore, regional editor

Freeze-dried pet treats

Snarfies makes freeze-dried pet treats my dogs love. Their favorite flavor: salmon.

— Emma Patti, former managing editor

For the bibliophile

Handcrafted from birch wood, the I Like Books More bookmark brings intention and charm to every turn of the page. With gentle reminders and inspiring symbolism, it’s a delightful pick for the reader in your life who treasures thoughtful touches.