Shopping in the Smokies: Best Local Shops for Unique Holiday Gifts

Holiday shopping is a breeze here in the Smokies. You’ll find gifts reflecting this region’s beauty, culture, and cuisine, plus presents for everyone from sports fans to family history buffs. We’ve curated a list of unique shopping, just for you. 

Great Smoky Christmas Arts and Crafts Show 

Professional artisans sell their handcrafted wares, Dec. 2 - 8 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Shop for jewelry, quilts, baskets, woodcrafts, paintings, toys, candles, ceramics, leather and much more. Admission is free. 

If you can’t get to the show, head to the artisan workshops in Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. 

Pottery Shops

Pottery is an Appalachian tradition. Buy decorative and useful pottery, and watch potters at work, at the area’s workshops. Bakeware, serving dishes, mugs, vases, candle holders, bird feeders–the gift possibilities are endless. Visit Alewine Pottery, Fowler’s Clay Works, Buie Pottery, Pigeon River Pottery, and Judy Jones Pottery.

The Old Mill Farmhouse Kitchen

Got a baker or cook on your list? Buy them cornmeal and flour, stone-ground in the historic Old Mill nearby. Give local jams, honeys, syrups and ingredients. Shop cookware, bakeware, linens, cookbooks, baking mixes, soup bases and all the Southern staples your chef could want. 

The Incredible Christmas Place

If you give Christmas decor, this is your one-stop shop. Find ornaments, lights, garlands, wreaths, pre-lit and fiber optic trees, nutcrackers, holiday village sets, and much more.

Cosmic Pen Caricatures

Talk about a one-of-a-kind gift! Get a caricature of your family member, friend, or yourself. Cosmic Pen’s artists create comical drawings while you wait. Artists can sketch you while you pose, or work from a photo. 

Southern Sportz

Not sure what to give that sports lover in your life? Your worries are over. This store caters to fans of college and professional sports, with jerseys, hats, car decorations, and more apparel and souvenir choices.  

Celtic Heritage

Give gifts reflecting the cultures of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Celtic Heritage sells jewelry, flags, coats of arms, kilts, sweaters, glassware, decor, and toys.

Moonshine Distilleries

You don’t need to find a backwoods still to buy this legendary spirit! Moonshine is legal, and distilleries offer a huge range of flavors. Try Ole Smoky Distillery, Sugarlands Distilling, Tennessee Shine Company, and the area’s other moonshine makers. 

Finding the right presents can be a pleasure instead of a chore! Reserve a vacation cabin today and get ready to play Santa.