There’s something extra special about shopping in Sherman that adds a touch of festiveness to the holiday season of giving. Right here in town, there are 21 places to go to find truly unique gifts for absolutely everyone on your shopping list. From locally sourced and handmade to international and free trade, there are neat finds just waiting to be discovered!

The Sherman Historical Society’s Old Store is synonymous with holiday sparkle and cheer. There’s plenty to choose from such as Christmas ornaments, handmade jewelry, and home goods. Some of their brand-new items include handcrafted nautical wood trays of Candlewood Lake, swivel granite cheese trays, holiday salt and pepper shakers, quality-made snow globes, and an adorable line of baby clothing.

Happy Rainbows is the place to go for fine healing teas. Owner Barrie Sachs is the town herbalist who hand blends and packages them herself. In her gift shop, she carries all kinds of local artisan products for adults, children, and pets. Leather journals, amethyst jewelry, cleansing white sage and smudge feathers, and salt and selenite lamps are some of the new products she’s carrying.

Sacred Grounds Coffee Roasters is celebrating its one year anniversary. They’re offering 10% off any pure, certified-organic coffee selection from around the world with the Town Tribune coupon that’s good until the new year. Supernatural, Guatemala Huehuetenango and Ethiopia Yirgacheffe are the top sellers, and there’s 24 more exotic free-trade coffees to choose from. Organic whole leaf teas and tea sachets are also new. Branded mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies are nice choices, too. Premade and custom-made gift baskets are available along with local products like tasty brittle, organic candies, and handmade soaps.

The Sherman IGA just got in a special order of Arethusa eggnog and ice cream. They also started carrying Little G gourmet ice-cream that’s made by an enterprising 16-year-old girl with Sherman ties. Holiday cookie trays and candies make excellent host and hostess gifts. Poinsettia plants, Christmas cacti, and winter bulb growing kits are just perfect for the “green thumb.” The shelves are also stocked with “Sherman” embroidered sweatshirts and baseball caps. A Sherman IGA gift card is always nice for anyone who lives nearby, and don’t forget to special order custom cuts of prime rib, filet mignon, roasts, hams, and turkeys, too.

In the month of December, Thursdays only, Hair by Susi is offering 20% off a full head of foils along with a free mini foil with any color service. “Just in” are gorgeous crystal hairpieces that add some glamour to any holiday outfit. Susi enjoys crocheting and she’s now selling her new line of scarves. She also carries new styles of handmade jewelry and cheeseboards by Caron Designs.

Three Sherman farms offer culinary delights to tempt the taste buds. White Silo Farm and Winery offers an assortment of premade gift baskets. Their sparkling red raspberry and sangria packs are perfect for parties, and they have award-winning mustard for sale. Strawberry Fields Farm offers tasty maple syrup straight from the farm. Happy Acres Farm offers holiday options for buying their grass-fed beef.

Sherman’s two well-loved restaurants always offer gift certificates in any amount. To go along with an American Pie Company gift card, special order a scrumptious pie, decadent cake, gigantic gingerbread house kit, or gingerbread family with names personalized on each of the gingerbread people. Amore Restaurant has a fantastic gift card deal. Buy a $25 gift card that has a $50 value.

A nice bottle of wine or a case of artisan beer from Sherman Wine and Spirits is always well-received. The shelves are stocked with seasonal specials like Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog, Holiday Prosecco, and winter beers. They’re very accommodating and can special order just about anything.

For live theater enthusiasts, Life with Father is a must-see comedy with December performances at the Sherman Playhouse. They also offer a one year subscription to all four shows in 2017. Take a spouse or friend to see the Sherman Chamber Ensemble’s Messiah Sing-in on Friday or The Best of Baroque performance in early January. At the Sherman Jewish Community Center (JCC), a recurring favorite each month is the Musical Jamboree. For anyone wanting to learn how to play a musical instrument, Hank Milligan Music offers one free music lesson per interested student for piano, guitar, and drums. Or, one month of free lessons for any new enrollment.

For the art aficionado, several places like the American Pie Company, Sherman Library, Webster Bank, and White Silo Farm and Winery, sell artwork by several local photographers and painters.

For the athletic, treat someone special to a few adult yoga sessions at the JCC. Or, sign up a student for the Sherman Parks & Rec winter basketball program at the Sherman School.

Another super gift idea for parents and grandparents is to give a child a winter session of classes in science, drama, Spanish, or chess at Robbyn’s Nest.

Carousel Kidsignment Shop is running all kinds of holiday specials on toys and clothes. The boutique area is full of brand-new merchandise for babies, children, and moms and dads, too. Windswept Tree Farm has the cutest outdoor gift shop. Naturally, everything’s centered around the evergreen theme like their tees, sweatshirts, mugs, and Christmas tree ornaments. And, Crystal Visions is a neat place to shop for spiritual collectibles, crystals, and stones.

In this holiday spirit of giving, consider volunteering or donating to a local non-profit in someone else’s name. Sherman is home to at least 25 non-profits and community organizations, and several of them are listed on the town website.

If you’d like to bring a “taste of Sherman” to those out-of-state, then mail your gifts from the Sherman USPS. Dress up envelopes with seasonal stamps like Florentine Madonna and Child, Holiday Windows, and Song Birds and Snow. Greeting cards and boxes are also available.

Holiday hours vary by store and business so call ahead or just be spontaneous and stop in.

Happy Holidays and Enjoy Your Unique Shopping Experience in Sherman!

Article and photos by Alicia Sakal. Originally written for Town Tribune.