HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Holiday Gift Guide Keeping it Local

Our holiday celebrations may take on a more subdued tone this year and family gatherings may be held in virtual formats, but one thing unlikely to change is

the tradition of gift giving. While the global pandemic has been a boon to many online stores and conglomerates, it has shaken small businesses—particularly retailers—to their core. With that in mind, we’ve gathered an eclectic assortment of items from a variety local stores and artists to inspire readers to shop locally this holiday season. From fun to functional and from whimsical to refined, Pensacola shops offer something for everyone on your shopping list.

Locally Made, Hand-Blown Glass Conch Shell ($95) thejoehobbs.com

Locally Made, Hand-Blown Glass Christmas Trees ($45 and up) thejoehobbs.com

First City Glass Guild Hand-Blown Glass Holiday Ornaments (prices vary) First City Arts Center

Books From Local Shops

Books are the gift that keep on giving. Whether they take you on a journey to a magical world, break your heart with the death of a character or stimulate your intellectual and creative curiosity, books have the power to move people. They also make a very thoughtful gift that be passed on from hand to hand and regifted after reading. Check out these local picks from Open Books & The Prison Book Project and Bodacious Books to gift this season featuring local authors, children’s books and cookbooks.

Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Natasha Trethewey. Open Books, $10 Don’t Quit Your Day Job by Sonny Brewer. Open Books, $10 We Can’t Help It If We’re From Florida: New Stories from a Sinking Peninsula by Shane Hinton. Open Books $20

Loblolly, Loblolly, You're So Tall by Mommy Moo Moo. Bodacious Books, $9.99 Tuesday Bluesday by Angel Stull-James. Bodacious Books, $14.95 Miss Millicent Monarch: A Butterfly’s Tale by Janet Wiggins. Bodacious Books, $19.95

When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley. Bodacious Books, $19.99

Blood In The Water by Rick Outzen. Bodacious Books, $16.95

The Silver Waterfall by Kevin Miller. Bodacious Books, $18.99

Feeding Friendzy by Corbett Davis Jr. Bodacious Books, $30

Flavor for All by James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst. Bodacious Books, $30

Bodacious Butter Infused Olive Oil 375 ml ($16.99) Bodacious Shops

EVO Stainless Steel Oil Sprayer ($30) Bodacious Shops

Host Wine Freeze Cooling Cups ($26.99) Warrington Hardware Festive Taco Set: Party bowl ($9.99) Festive Taco Holders ($9.99/each) Festive Taco Spoons ($5.50/set) Bodacious Shops

Wood Handled Fish Wine Opener ($39) Angel's Garden

Bodacious Popcorn Set: Lekue Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper ($20)

Urban Accents Red, White and Blue Popcorn ($5.99)

Bodacious Black Truffle Sea Salt ($12) Indonesian Organic Teak Cutting Board ($165) DUH for Garden & Home

Holiday Gift Guide

Vista Alegre 1824 Chinese Zodiac Porcelain Trinket Boxes from Portugal ($85) Urban Objects

Handmade Ritual Candles with Flowers, Herbs and Crystals ($12)

Hand Blended Teas ($10 & up)

Whiskey by the Fire Handmade Soy and Local Beeswax Candle ($12)

Pink and Lavender Quartz Crystals (Prices Vary)

Asher and Bee Apothecary & Teahouse Tote+able Canvas Wine and Beverage Canteen ($21) Bodacious Shops Merci Louis vintage Hand-Bound Books from Paris: Large 120 Page Book ($36) DUH for Home & Garden

Erbario Toscano Bacche Di Tuscia 1-Liter Diffuser Handmade in Italy ($169) DUH for Home & Garden

Creative Co-op Wool Felt Llama Ornaments ($20) DUH for Home & Garden White canvas handmade ornaments on wire stands: Dove ($28), Stag ($24) DUH for Home & Garden

Locally Designed Metal and Bead Pensacola Ornament ($28) Angel's Garden

Milk Chocolate Snowman Stuffed With Chocolate Covered Popcorn ($30) White Chocolate and Candy Coated Pretzel Party Mix ($12) Dark Chocolate Santa and Christmas Tree Pops (Prices Vary) Peppermint Bark ($4.50) Peterbrooke Chocolatier

Holiday Gift Guide

Powder U.K. Embroidered Floral Headband ($33) The Mole Hole

Powder U.K. Modern Floral Velvet bag ($44) The Mole Hole

WS by Wallace # Sewell Handwoven Kyoto Pink Merino Lambs Wool Scarf ($85) Urban Objects Swarovski Crystal Firefly Necklace ($78), Bracelet ($224) and Earrings ($54) Angel's Garden

Still Waters Spa Gift Certificate (prices vary) Skin Medica TNS Advanced + Serum ($295) Still Waters Day & Medical Spa

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. Pocket Worn Old Red Bone Corn Cob Jigger ($68.99) Warrington Hardware

Orbit Key Charcoal Key Ring with Nail File and Multi-Tools (Prices Vary) Duh For Home & Garden

Community Events

Ghost of Christmas Past Haunted House

Investigation December 4 This year will mark the 120th Christmas celebration in this haunted house. Customers will check-in at Go Retro, 610 N. Spring St., use the restrooms, and then take a short bus ride to the haunted house, which has been featured on the SyFy Channel's "Haunted Collector" show and other paranormal television shows. There, people will learn about the Victorian home's 100+ year history. Everyone then will be divided into groups and taught how to use various ghost hunting electronic equipment.

Perdido Area Community

Craft & Vendor Fair December 5 The Perdido Area Chamber is excited to host a Perdido Area Community Craft & Vendor Fair alongside a holiday Flicks on the Field on the Field at the Pensacola Greyhound Park, 951 Dog Track Road. Kick-off the holiday shopping season on “Shop Local Saturday” by browsing the vendor booths at the Perdido Area Community Craft & Vendor Fair followed by a special holiday Flicks on the Field outdoor movie night featuring the holiday favorite film, ELF!

The Gordon Holiday Festival December 5 Come support local artists at the Gordon Holiday Festival where artists will be displaying and selling art and holiday gifts. The festoval will feature two programs with musicians, dancers and poets that are free and open to the public. Live music and lights will be displayed outside in the garden area. Food and drink will also be available for purchase.

2020 Lighted Boat

Parade & Fireworks December 7 The 2020 Lighted Boat Parade will be led by Chase-n-Fins and will set sail from Sabine Marina in Little Sabine Bay at 6:30 p.m. do a loop and will wind its way around the Santa Rosa Sound/ Boardwalk area and then will circle back. Spectators can watch the parade from Little Sabine or the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk and any of the businesses along the route.

2020 Teachers Giving

Tree Project December 10 Angel’s Garden is hosting a Teacher’s Giving Tree to give back to local educators. Each ornament on the tree represents three wishes from an individual classroom teacher at a local Title I school. Each day, teachers make a difference, one child at a time. They bring hope, encouragement, and the ability to dream beyond the four walls of the classroom, transforming their students’ lives every day. To help support education in our community in this challenging year, people can select an ornament off the tree located at Angel’s Garden and shop for a local teacher. Gifts are due back to Angel’s Garden no later than Dec. 10 at 5 pm.

Christmas on the Coast 2020 Presented by

Saenger Theatre December 11-13 Christmas on the Coast is a dazzling holiday spectacular where the singers of the Pensacola Children's Chorus will transform sunny weather into a winter wonderland. You'll experience all the sights and sounds of the holidays that will have you humming through the New Year! Please note that seating is limited due to COVID-19 physical distancing policies. Masks are required for admission and for the duration of the performance.

Junie B. In Jingle Bells,

Batman Smells! December 11-December 20 Pensacola Little Theatre presents Junie B. In Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! Junie B. Jones, First-Grader, is super-excited about the upcoming Holiday SingAlong and Secret Santa gift exchange at her school. Too bad tattletale May keeps ruining all of Junie B.'s fun. So when Junie B. draws May's name for Secret Santa, she comes up with the perfect plan to teach her nemesis a lesson! But will the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill interfere before she can give you-know-who what she deserves? A hilarious and endearing tale based on the bestselling book series by Barbara Park.

Winter Art Market December 12 First City Art Center’s Winter Art Market will be an outdoor event featuring local art vendors, glass holiday ornaments from FCAC artists, glassblowing and pottery demonstrations, raffles and more! *Masks are required on FCAC Campus for all staff, vendors, volunteers and attendees*

82nd Annual Camellia

Flower Show December 12 The annual show will be located at The Garden Center, 1850 N. 9tha Avenue, Pensacola, Florida. The Pensacola Camellia Club wecomes everyone with a camellia plant in their yards to enter their blooms from 7-10am, closed judging occurs at 10:30 -1pm, then from 1pm -4pm it is FREE to the Public to view the beautiful camellia flowers that bloom in various colors, forms and sizes. We ask everyone who attends to wear a mask and distance yourselves as you walk through the tables filled with camellia flower blooms.

Christmas ZOObilee December 12, 13, 19 & 21 Christmas ZOObilee includes winterthemed bounce stations, live music and entertainment, a Candy Cane Market full of gifts, sights, smells, and tastes of the season, including unique gifts from local artists and delicious holiday treats. Fun for the entire family, Christmas ZOObilee wouldn't be complete without a visit from the jolly man in a red suit. Sundays with Santa is the perfect opportunity to hand-deliver last-minute Christmas letters while snapping a treasured photo with Saint Nick in his sleigh.

Nutcracker Ballet Pensacola December 18-20 Annually selling out, the Ballet Pensacola company brings joy, excitement and consistent surprises to dance audiences across the panhandle and into the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This production has been hailed as the best Nutcracker from New Orleans to Miami. The classical ballet will enthrall audiences as the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky accompanies the story of