It’s always special to grab a holiday gift from someone local, and Simsbury Holiday Market and Holiday Village is swimming with options. Through Dec. 11, the grounds of the Simsbury Historical Society are taken over with holiday spirit during the market. Sheltered by a massive ten, local artisans set up shop to sell their wares for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift you can’t find online. As you wander, you’ll come across everything from handcrafted sterling silver jewelry to warm wool mittens and hand-poured soy candles and soaps. There is even someone selling custom bow ties for all, including your pup!

Beyond the shopping, there are weekly activities for all ages to enjoy. Depending on the week, you might meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, watch a beautiful performance of The Nutcracker, listen to jazz played by the local high school. or participate in a festive craft.

All those activities will work up an appetite, so save some money for the food trucks on site each weekend. The full schedule of dates and times is online, so check it out to plan your visit.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Tom Hannigan