This holiday season, find the perfect gifts for all your family and friends while shopping locally. Finding local gifts supports local business owners and our local workforce, keeps the money within our community, and is more environmentally friendly.
There’s an incredible wealth of experiences and shops for all your Christmas shopping needs, as well as plenty of holiday markets to celebrate the festive season and find opportunities to support local.
This is the ultimate Penticton holiday gift guide, and you’re sure to find inspiration for gifts for each and every person on your list.
Local Shops
Cherry Lane Shopping Centre is a great place to check out, with over 40 stores it’s a perfect one stop shop experience, and starting December 1, when you spend $200+ from 3 or more Cherry Lane retailers, you’ll receive a free gift! For more chances to win gifts while Christmas shopping, visit Downtown Penticton and take part in their 24 Days of Christmas Contest, where you can win a shopping spree for shopping locally downtown until December 16.
For home décor and furniture check out Lanyon Home. Or stop into Shades of Linen for clothing that is designed and manufactured on premise.
Shop exclusive Penticton branded apparel and merchandise at the Penticton Visitor Centre or on our online shop. You can also purchase discounted Visit Penticton x Apex Mountain Adult Day Passes from the Penticton Visitor Centre, which make for a perfect stocking stuffer!
Give the Gift of Outdoor Adventure
From hiking and biking to rock climbing and kayaking, Penticton is an outdoor adventure mecca. With mild weather, locals can enjoy hiking and biking year-round, or take part in an abundance of outdoor Winter activities from snowshoeing and cross country skiing to downhill skiing, snowboarding, skating and hockey.
Pick up a gift from Eskala Mountain Sports for the outdoor adventurer in your life, whether it’s a new backpack, camping gear, jacket, climbing gear, hiking gear or other outdoor adventure accessories, you’re sure to find a gift they love.
For the one that loves biking, visit The Bike Barn, Freedom Bike Shop or Pedego Penticton and depending on your budget, either find them a new bike or some bike accessories, such as a basket or rack, helmet or biking gloves, trailer, bike pump or lock.
If they aren’t afraid of heights, book them a tour at ZipZone Adventures, Canada’s highest zipline! They are closed through Winter but re-open in the Spring, with 2,4 or 6 line tours, a dynamic climbing wall, or the option to purchase a gift certificate in any amount.
For other climbing adventures, Skaha Rock Adventures staff are all Association of Canadian Mountain Guides members, and whether your loved one is a beginner or advanced climber, they have a course that will work as the perfect gift. Hoodoo Adventures also offers climbing courses, and they have an indoor climbing wall, so you can purchase an outdoor course, or a day pass or punch pass to the climbing wall, a perfect gift for the climber in your life to keep practicing their skills through Winter.
Take the one that loves the snow on a day trip up to Apex Mountain Resort for a full day of outdoor snow adventures with downhill skiing or snowboarding, skating at the forest loop and tubing. Or head a bit further up the road to Nickel Plate Nordic Centre and take them on a cross country ski or snowshoe adventure, or purchase a day pass and rentals for them to enjoy at their leisure this Winter season.
Give the Gift of Local Art
There are many talented artists and art galleries in Penticton, so there’s many options to find a beautiful local painting or piece of art to give as a gift.
The Penticton Art Gallery features exhibits which change monthly, so there’s always something new to browse and purchase. There are several galleries located in the downtown core which showcase talented local artists, including Cormier’s Studio, which is both an art gallery and sculpture garden, as well as a bed and breakfast, Tumbleweed Art Gallery, featuring unusual and inspiring works of art, and The Lloyd Gallery, which has been around since the 1980’s and showcases over 40 Canadian artists.
The Penticton & District Community Arts Council (PDCAC) is located in the historic Leir House Cultural Centre, where they host a variety of events, workshops, exhibitions, and markets, that are family friendly and low to no cost so they’re accessible for all, and are a great way to spend time with your loved ones, bringing them to one of PDCAC’s events.
Give the Gift of Okanagan Wine
It’s no secret that the Okanagan is well-known for its wine, and while you and your friends and family may already spend a fair amount of time wine tasting, with over 70 wineries in the 3 nearby wine areas of Naramata Bench, Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive and Okanagan Falls Skaha Lake, there’s always going to be a new wine to try, or a favourite bottle you can give as a gift.
Visit the BC VQA Wine Information Centre, the neighbourhood wine and gift shop for a good bottle of BC VQA to sip over the holidays or pick up one of their custom gift baskets for the perfect assortment of local goodies and wine all beautifully wrapped up and ready to give.
Shop at JAK’s Beer Wine and Spirits located beside the Cherry Lane Mall, where you will find a diverse selection of Okanagan wines, as well as beers and spirits or check out Martin Street Liquor Merchants, with wine specialists, a cicerone and scotch aficionados on staff and proudly offering local wines, ciders and spirits, locally-crafted beers and more.
Many wineries offer specials on cases, gift packs or gift baskets, perfect to give to a wine lover this holiday season.
8th Generation has released Wine to the Rescue, which includes 6 bottles of wine, 2 bubbly, 2 white and 2 red, and they will donate $50 to Search and Rescue teams in Chilliwack and Abbotsford to help their ongoing efforts, for each 6 pack purchased. It’s the time of giving but also giving back!
Back Door Winery has something for every Wine Tasting Friend on your list. Their 12 days of Christmas Wine Case includes 12 different wines to enjoy during the holiday season. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram for their advent calendar, where each day they feature a new special that is available for 24 hours, with shipping available. Order before December 12 to receive before Christmas.
Bench 1775 has a limited edition 2021 Advent Calendar to countdown the 12 Nights of Wine with a bottle of wine each day. The Advent Calendar includes a selection of 6 reds, 4 whites, a sweet wine and a bottle of bubbly beautifully wrapped in tissue with a bow. Order before December 8 to receive your calendar by December 13 and start the countdown in time for Christmas. Bench 1775 also has curated Holiday Bundles wrapped in red bows with Holiday Cards available to be included with the order.
Elephant Island Winery has 3 Holiday Collections, including A Holiday Essential Wine Collection with 12 bottles of wine to see you through the season, For the Chef, The Baker, and The… a selection of 12 Holiday Dessert Wines and finally the Soul-Warming Six Pack with 6 bottles of holiday reds. They also have White Christmas, a holiday pack with 6 bottles of white, The Three Kings, with 3 vintages, and Christmas Magic, with 3 bottles of limited production wines and an Elephant Island corkscrew. All collections and packs include a hand written note, gift wrapping available upon request and free local delivery. They offer corporate pricing packages for those looking to get the perfect gift for their employees. From December 3-12, spend $250 and get 50% off shipping using code SPIRIT.
Fitzpatrick‘s Fitz Vertical includes 3 bottles of sparkling wines, that have had aging en tirage in their sparkling caves.
Four Shadows‘ Vertical Merlot Gift Pack includes one bottle each of their 2017, 2018 and 2019 Merlot, exclusive winemaker vintage notes with instructions for conducting a vertical tasting and a Christmas card.
Lakeside Cellars‘ Holiday Pairing Pack features 6 bottles, perfect for any holiday meal and a Reserve Pack, a 6 bottle vertical of Reserve Provenir in a presentation box. Each Holiday Bundle includes seasonally inspired recipes, technical sheets for each of the 6 wines, and a gift tag.
Laughing Stock has a Diversified 2-Pack, a Christmas 2 bottle gift pack, or a Diversified Rhone 2-Pack, a Christmas 2 bottle gift pack with a Rhone influence. If you’re looking for a bigger gift pack, they also have a Diversified 12-Pack with 12 bottles to balance the wine portfolio.
Little Engine Wines makes gift giving easy with many options from Curated Gift Boxes and Customized Gift Boxes that include 2 or 3 bottles, and Large Formats up to 12L, to Hand Crafted Barrel Accents, Glassware and Virtual At-Home Tastings.
Painted Rock has various Gift Sets and Collections, from Duos of 2 bottles and Gift Sets for Two with a bottle of wine and 2 beautifully etched Reidel wine glasses, to Gift Box Trios and their Vintage Collection.
Poplar Grove offers various gift packs for the holidays including the Festive Holiday Gift Pack with 6 bottles, a holiday card and a surprise gift, the Tis the Season Six Pack with 6 bottles, a Winter Warm Up Gift Pack with 6 reds, and their Bundle of Joy Gift Pack with 6 bottles, the latter 3 all of which come with a holiday card and a branded to-go wine glass. They also have a Gold Medal Case which is filled with 12 bottles of their gold medal winning wines.
Three Sisters is offering 10% off on all full cases with free delivery within Penticton, or Gift Pack options are a 2 Bottle Box, choose any 2 wines, or a 3 Bottle Box, choose either 1 wine and corresponding glassware or fill it with 3 bottles of wine. They also have branded Puddifoot glasses, Tea Towels and offer gift wrapping services which comes with a free tasting voucher. For gift cards, you’ll save $50 for every $500 purchased.
Tightrope Winery offers 3 Gift Sets including the Holiday Classics Gift Set that includes a wine for everyone and every occasion with 4 bottles and 2 Tightrope Riedel Magnum wine glasses, the Wine Lovers Gift Set with 6 bottles, and the Happy Holidays Gift Set with 3 bottles, a red, a white and a rosé.
TIME Winery has 11 different Gift Sets of either 2 or 4 bottles of wine, so you’re sure to find the perfect wine gift, plus every gift set purchase enters you to win a gourmet dinner for 4 at TIME Winery and Kitchen.
Tinhorn Creek has a selection of Gift Baskets and pre-wrapped holiday cookies for purchase at the winery.
Township 7 has gift wrapped bottles of wine available or you can create a custom Gift Basket, with free local delivery available or free shipping on 4 or more bottles. They also have e-gift cards available so your loved one can pick out their favourite wine.
Although some wineries close over Winter, many are still open for wine sales or online sales even if their tasting rooms are closed for the season. You can find a list of wineries open for tastings and/or sales throughout the Winter here.
Give the Gift of a Local Experience
A local experience is a fantastic gift to give, as the memories will last forever.
Want to give more than just a bottle of wine? Purchase a gift certificate for a wine tour company and give the gift of a wine tasting experience of their choosing. Let your loved one explore one of the many nearby wine areas with Grape Escapes, as they offer gift certificates in any amount or you can choose a tour to gift and the recipient just picks the date. At Topless Tours, they have a Winter Paradise Tour where you can enjoy a Winter waterfall, lunch and wine tasting, give as a gift to a loved one and enjoy the tour together. Sagebrush Tours is the Okanagan’s only ecotourism tour company, and they also offer ski shuttles up to the surrounding mountains, with gift cards available in any amount so the recipient can use it for the tour or shuttle of their choice.
The gift of a Membership allows the recipient to enjoy multiple experiences throughout the year or the season, and they’ll think of you each time they go! Cover the cost of a Membership to the Penticton Art Gallery for the art lover in your life to enjoy free admission and discounts for the upcoming year or a Membership to Nickel Plate Nordic Centre for the one that enjoys cross country skiing. A Membership to PURE Gym is the perfect gift for the health conscious person, and allows 24/7 access so even the busiest person can find time for a workout. For a higher end Membership to the one that loves sunshine and Summer activities, give the gift of a Club Membership to Penticton Boat Rentals or Skaha Marina to enjoy boat rentals all summer or a Penticton Golf & Country Club Membership for unlimited rounds of golf at this local championship course.
Pick up a gift card from a local accommodator to give to that hard working person in your life that deserves a staycation getaway. At Similkameen Wild, for every $100 spent on gift vouchers, you’ll receive a 20% bonus. With so many amazing packages and special offers available this holiday season and over the Winter, they’re sure to find the perfect one to spend their gift card on.
For the outdoor lover, give them a gift certificate from Hoodoo Adventures so they can use it towards their favourite outdoor activity whether it’s a snowshoe, bike, kayak or SUP rental, or a tour with Hoodoo such as snowshoeing, hiking, biking, climbing, or kayaking. As a bonus holiday gift, you’ll get $50 for every $100 you spend on Hoodoo gift cards in the month of December, using code HOLIDAY21. Or pick up a discounted Apex Day Pass from the Penticton Visitor Centre and give them a day to enjoy up at Apex.
A fun gift idea for the one that loves animals is GottaGoat Farm‘s “Lease-A-Goat,” which includes 4 visits with the goat, their 2022 GottaGoat Farm Calendar, a photo of the goat, and a special certificate, as well as monthly emails for a year.
For a classic Penticton experience, get them tickets to a Vees Game or a show at The Dream Café.
There are so many fantastic local companies that can provide a wide range of local experiences, you’re sure to find the perfect experience to gift to each person in your life.
Give the Gift of Local Dining
We have an amazing food and beverage industry here in Penticton and surrounding areas, on top of the many amazing wineries, we also have a fantastic selection of local restaurants and pubs as well as a variety of great local coffee shops and cafes.
Along with an extensive selection of restaurants and pubs, we also have a dynamic craft beer scene with 7 (soon to be 8) local breweries, along the Penticton Ale Trail. They have a wide selection of local craft beers as well as delicious options for dining, with a unique pizza menu at Bad Tattoo Brewing, Okanagan ingredients tied in with their house-brewed libations at Slackwater Brewing, Mexican inspired cuisine at Neighbourhood Brewing, classic homemade pub style food at Barley Mill Brew Pub, and classic tapas style food choices from Cannery Brewing. Pick up a 6-pack or a gift card from our local Ale Trail as a holiday gift.
For a holiday gift basket filled with local foods, check out The Bench Market. Their shelves are full of local, artisan fine foods and they also offer complimentary wrapping for gift baskets. Choose your own treats or ask their staff to create a basket for you! They have dressings and sauces, honey and preserves, chips and crackers, oils and vinegars, their ever-popular Bench-made granolas and roasted almonds and much more.
Learn more about our culinary community with Daily Special, and find out where our local business owners spend their time in our community, and you may even get a few extra gift ideas.
Give the Gift of Something Sweet
While some of your family and friends may have a sweet tooth all year, others find themselves indulging more over the holidays, so what better gift to give than a local sweet treat!
Visit Summerland Sweets for a wide range of fruit based products including pancake syrups, gourmet jams, nut brittles, and a selection of gift packages, or Maple Roch for a classic Canadian gift, 100% pure maple syrup, or check out their other maple snacks, food and gift sets.
For the one that loves sweets as much as they love a whimsical experience, take them to Neverland Tea Cottage for their High Tea with a tower of sweets plus a large selection of teas.
Another well-known local sweet treat spot is Tickleberry’s, and while they may be known for their ice cream, they also have a selection of other gifts such as chocolate-covered dried fruits, real-fruit flavoured Ticklebeans, a range of local crafts, wind chimes, jewelry, hand bags, and garden accessories.
For your loved one that loves treats as much as they love you, but is either looking for health conscious options or has dietary restrictions, Gratify is the perfect place to shop for them. Pick up a cheesecake sampler, a Snack Sampler Box, a Gratify Cookbook, so they can make their own delicious treats at home, or a gift card so they can browse and pick their own sweet treat gift.
Support Local This Christmas
From Okanagan wine and experiences to a Penticton meal, piece of art or outdoor adventure, support local this holiday season and show your loved ones you care, with a unique, local gift.
You can also find local gifts at one of the holiday markets happening in the Penticton area this month. Or check out some of the festive events happening for more great gift ideas, as your loved ones are sure to appreciate spending time with you at any of the holiday events happening in Penticton this Winter.
Shop local, support local Penticton this holiday season!
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