Make holiday gifting easier with 90+ gift ideas in this special edition newsletter, put together with our shopping + deals site The Buy.
Win the holidays with these gift ideas
Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Season’s greetings, Madison. Festive time is upon us — and in between hot cocoa drinking and twinkle light hanging, we’re guessing you’re shopping for a few special people on your list. Look no further than the official 608today gift guide, with 90+ gift ideas including unique local treasures and the season’s hottest items.
Including a knitted blanket and a punny candle.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Ultimate Cheeseboard Gift Set | $150-$275 | Forget the cheesy love stories and gift them cheese they’ll actually use with this Fromagination set.
Smeg Electric Kettle | $149.95 | Splurge on a coveted retro-style Smeg appliance, perfect for making teas and coffees all year long.
Knitted weighted blanket | $135.99 | Perfect for a bed or couch, this 15-lb blanket offers comforting weight with an aesthetic knit finish.
Local pick:“My Toxic Ex” Card Game | $19.99 | Head to Noble Knight to grab this card game for your friend who’s struggling in the romance department.
Melissa Clark’s “Dinner in One” | $29.99 | A New York Times bestseller + a best cookbook of the year by Food & Wine, Melissa Clark’s recipe collection serves up delicious, one-pot meals for dinner.
Automatic curtain opener | $89.99 | A smart device that opens curtains automatically by smartphone app, Alexa, or Google Home — they can even set schedules.
Including a jumbo cooler bag and conversation starters for kids.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Muslin swaddle | $26.99 | Perfect for any new parents, these swaddles from Good Day Shop come in a variety of patterns.
Ceneda large cooler bag | $24.99 | This insulated, leak-proof tote is perfect for family road trips, beach trips, and everything in between.
Car backseat organizers | $19.99 | Speaking of road trips, these backseat car organizers are every parent’s best friend + come complete with a tablet holder.
200 Kids Conversation Cards | $29.97 | Transform family dinners with a conversation-starting card game that asks kids and adults fun and meaningful questions.
Local pick:Edgewater staycation | $180+ | Sometimes, parents just need a break. A relaxing staycation at the beautiful Edgewater hotel could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Bento Lunch Box | $32.99 | Gift parents an organized + colorful lunch box complete with a food jar, dividers, and silicone utensils.
Smart calendar + chore chart | $319.99 | The future of chore charts is here — treat parents to the ultimate family organization tool, complete with Google calendar syncing, color coding, and
Including comfy flannel and a book embosser.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Jazz Night | $15+ | Treat your partner with a night out listening to jazz at Cafe Coda — we recommend bundling up to grab a drink at Crystal Corner before the show.
TheraGun Mini Massage Gun | $199.00 | A compact and travel-sized deep tissue massager that can relieve sore muscles and speed up recovery in between workouts.
UGG Tasman Slipper | $110.00 | Gift your partner the perfect winter slipper that can be worn both in and out of the house.
Local pick:Gin Academy | $90+ | Book a gin academy experience for the two of you to try together at Dancing Goat Distillery — you’ll head home with your ownbottle of gin.
Sherpa-lined flannel shirt jacket | $49.98 | Choose your favorite plaid pattern + snag them a warm jacket great for hiking, trekking, and camping all season long.
“From the library of” book embosser | $17.95+ | For the partner who loves to read, this personalized gift will add flair and meaning to their home library.
Including a fancy hot sauce set and a YETI tumbler.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:The Deliciouser Chocolate Oaxaqueño | $10-$20 | Pick up this Mexican spiced drinking chocolate mix that can be added to milk or milk alternatives.
TRUFF 3-bottle set | $19.99 | A great sampler gift of the original TRUFF hot sauce, hotter hot sauce, and black truffle oil.
Funny flip-over desk signs | $13.99 | Perfect for the office gift exchange, these flip-over signs display messages like “Drinks after work?” and “Shh...I’m thinking.”
Porta-Potty Shot Glasses | $19.99 | Liven up the gift grab bag with highly-rated porta-potty shot glasses.
Local pick:Anthology | Price of purchase | Ok, ok, so it’s not exactly a gift — but it is a store that’s chock-full of cute knickknacks and gifts.
Including the best headphones and a dorm-friendly basketball hoop.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Badgers sweatshirt | $59.99 | Keep them looking warm and stylish this season.
Stanley Quencher | $45.00 | The internet-famous water bottle, available in cute colors like Matcha Cream.
Rocketbook Everlast Fusion notebook | $37 | A digital notebook for to-do lists, lecture notes, and goals — save notes to the Cloud and wipe it clean for another use.
Crock-pot electric lunch box | $44.99 | Commuting students and interns can have hot meals on the go with this portable Crock-pot.
Local pick:University of Wisconsin-Madison care package | Price of purchase | Send an early holiday gift straight to their dorm — choose from treats, gift cards, campus apparel, and more.
Cropped puffy vest | $36.97+ | A stylish vest for warmth walking to classes.
Including the best lint roller and a pet cam.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Convertible Dog Walking Bag | $34 | Make dog walking handsfree with this stylish and convertible bag from Petphoria.
Chom Chom Roller | $27.99 | Pet owners will be amazed by how much hair this reusable lint roller picks up from carpets, clothes, and couches.
Thoughts of Dog 2025 calendar | $17.99 | Gift a daily pup-spective of a sweet dog with this adorable and funny daily calendar.
Cat tunnel bed | $48.99 | A plush and ultra-soft cat pet bed with a fun feature — there’s a tunnel inside for cats to explore.
Local pick:Trip to The Cat’s Brew | $10+ | Gift them an experience they’ll remember — a visit to this cute cat cafe where they can sip on a beverage while playing with adoptable felines.
Furbo Mini Pet Camera | $99 | The ultimate home security camera for watching pets while you’re away.
Pawprint keepsake kit | $16.95 | A DIY kit for pet owners to make their very own personalized clay pet keepsake.
These gifts are bursting with local pride.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Ian’s Pizza mini art print | $14-$20 | Locals know that pizza from Ian’s is a work of art — now, you can commemorate that by gifting this unique print.
Local pick:Badgers football tickets | $20-$100 | Get them tickets to cheer on the best team around.
Local pick:Lake Monona candle | $15.95 | Give a candle decorated with hand-scooped sand from Lake Monona by Madison Candle Co.
Local pick:WiscoBoxes | $49-$135 | Choose from a variety of specialty curated gift boxes that will make them think fondly of home.
Including a nut milk maker and a stuffed burger press.
Graphic by 6AM City
Local pick:Bushel & Peck’s Hot Sauce Rainbow Six Pack | $32 | Grab this local hot sauce pack that features a sauce for every meal — we like Belizean Habanero for eggs + Cherry Bomb for a unique kick.
Almond Cow Nut Milk Maker | $249.95 | The ultimate gift for your dairy-free friend, this nut milk maker can turn their favorite nut or seed into milk at the touch of a button.
Honey sampler set | $46.99 | A sweet gift including salty honey, hot honey, and Meyer lemon honey.
“Be Ready When the Luck Happens” by Ina Garten | $34 | One of this year’s most anticipated memoirs from Ina Garten, aka the Barefoot Contessa, beloved Food Network personality and cultural icon.
Stuffed burger press | $19.95 | Foodie friends can make burgers stuffed with cheese, bacon, onions, jalapenos, or whatever they dream up with this grill accessory.
Local pick:Brunch gift card | Price of purchase | Consult our brunch guide to find the perfect spot to grab a gift card — do they love a diner experience? Go with Parkway Family Restaurant. Mimosas a must? Try DLUX.
Sous vide precision cooker | $89.90 | Home cooks can take their cuisine to a whole new level with this sous vide cooker that achieves the perfect level of doneness.
Local pick: Swiss Miss ‘Shmallow | $27.99 | In collaboration with Swiss Miss®, this exclusive whiskey by Hotel Tango Distillery blends caramelized sugar and toasted marshmallow notes with rich cocoa for a cozy winter experience.*
