What’s better than giving the perfect gift? Knowing that you also made a neighbour happy by choosing to boost the local economy and support your community!

Whether you head out to the many craft fairs and holiday markets, stroll through downtown, or browse online, you can find something created here in New Brunswick that’s sure to match everyone on your shopping list.

To help you fuel your inspiration, we asked some local parents to share their picks for local gifts. We love discovering local businesses to support, especially when it comes to Christmas!

What New Brunswick Parents are buying this Christmas

Nausika Breau
Mother of two, Apple Art Gallery Owner

For the newborn
Boutique Mini Coco
Being a new mom, faster diaper changes means more time for cuddles. My favourite gift to give a newborn is the “Magnetic me” pyjamas from Boutique Mini Coco.

For the grandparents
Isabelle Lafargue ornament
One of my favourite Holiday traditions is decorating the Christmas tree and unwrapping all of the ornaments I’ve had since I was young. The most special ornaments to give are the ones that are handmade and personalized. My pick: porcelain Christmas balls by local artist Isabelle Lafargue.

For him
Jon Black cutting board
Something fun for the Kitchen! A colourful cutting block by Jon Black is always a great gift. It also makes for a great reason to cook together.

For the friends
Gift basket
I always enjoy putting a few of my favourite little things in a basket. Grab a mug from a local potter and pair it with some local teas or coffee from the market.

Corey Dugas
Father of one, Founder and COO of Momentum Canada

For the bearded
Bubbles & Balms
I recently embarked on growing a beard and have gotten great advice and guidance from the team at Bubbles & Balms in the Saint John City Market. They have a great beard oil called Mr. Beard Oil but they also have some other options that I look forward to trying.

For the mother-in-law
Garden by the Sea
Both my mother and mother-in-law use their products daily, specifically their Olive Oil and Sea Spa soaps and wax melts. Great gift for anyone who loves fresh sea-inspired scents!

For the nightcap connoisseur
Devil’s Keep Vodka
For friends, I often look for interesting New Brunswick spirits. Fredericton-based Devil’s Keep Distillery is made in small batches and found at Alcool NB Liquor. Make it a gift set with a couple Sussex Golden Ginger Ales for the makings of a ‘New Brunswick Mule’. (Not saying I have tried this, but hey, when in New Brunswick…)

For the kids
Indoor Adventure Parks
I recently switched to giving experiences versus toys and there are a ton of local service and experience providers that can keep kids active. Saint Johner’s can enjoy the Oasis Trampoline Park, Fredericton has Vertical Ascent, and in Moncton there’s SkyZone. There are lots of options when finding age appropriate activities so keep your eye out for existing and new activity ideas.

For friends
Uncorked Tours
Experiences for groups of adult friends are also a great option if you’re looking to get creative and find more time to spend together. Uncorked Tours offers a variety of options around New Brunswick and can be designed to incorporate beer, wine, ciders, spirits and food, ALL from New Brunswick. This is a great way to try a lot of New Brunswick food and beverage while supporting a locally owned and operated tour company as well.

Graham Norton
Father of two, co-owner of East Coast Chiropractic

For the whole family
Christmas at Kings Landing
Assemble the crew and make it a tradition! This is one of my favourite ways to get everyone in the holiday spirit with a great meal and a classic atmosphere.

For the friends
The Drome gift card
You can’t go wrong with a gift card for good food, great local beer, and candlepin bowling. If you’re lucky maybe they’ll bring you with them!

For your partner
Surface Float 
Give your someone special the gift of peace and quiet this holiday season. Some time to float away their stress, jump into a sauna, and try hydrotherapy or thermotherapy will surely put a smile on their face.

For the Sweet Tooth
Jenny Jynx treats
Scroll through Jen’s Instagram account to see how easy a crowd pleaser this one is! Whether it’s macarons, squares, donuts or full blown custom cakes, you can order something that will appeal to anyone’s palate.

For the adventurer
Fredericton Bouldering Co-op 
For anyone on your list who enjoys new physical challenges, a one-month membership to the FBC is an awesome way to stay active in the cold winter months.

Matt Carter
Father of one, Director of Communications & Development at Theatre New Brunswick & Founder of Grid City Magazine

For the music lover
Backstreet Records
New Brunswick has so many talented artists and performers. If I’m buying a gift for a music lover, I always head to either Backstreet Records or Second Spin. I can always find some unique New Brunswick sounds on their shelves.

For the artist
Endeavours on Queen Street
Whether I’m looking for something simple like great pens and notebooks, or seeking out something unique and fun for that creative mind on my shopping list, the amazing staff at Endeavours always come through with the right recommendation. I sometimes go there just to get inspired!

For the reader
Westminster Books gift certificate
I’m a sucker for a good bookstore and Fredericton has one of the best in Atlantic Canada. I’ve been going to Westminster Books since before I could read. No joke! As a kid, my parents would take me and my siblings there every Saturday. I still visit often and usually walk away with my next favourite book.

For the family
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
A family membership to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery may be the best gift you could ever give someone. I take my son there as often as I can. There is a powerful magic in that building. It’s relaxing, inspiring and for me, one of the greatest art galleries anywhere. And it’s right here in New Brunswick!

For the hard-to-buy-for
Theatre tickets
Everyone loves a good story and theatre is one of the best ways to experience storytelling. Every major center in New Brunswick (and a growing number of rural communities) have live theatre events happening throughout the entire year. If you’ve been to the theatre, you already know how magical the experience can be. If you haven’t been, and you’re on my list, get ready. You can thank me later!

Alicia Stafford
Mother of three, teacher, Your Way Weight Loss Owner

For the foodie
John black abstract cutting board
I love a good solid wood cutting board and find it’s that perfect gift for someone who loves to cook.

For the best friend
Studs Astray
What’s better than a pair of bam earrings? A hand-made pair of bam earrings!

For Dad
Down East Coffee
The best gift of all time has to be coffee! Something they can drink and enjoy! I love adding a bag of Down East Coffee’s dark chocolate covered beans to the gift.

For the Babysitter
Knot Kinky Hairties
That’s right, bringing scrunchies back from the 80’s. The perfect gift for a trendy teen.

For Mom
Magnetic Hill Winery Picnic
We all have too much stuff, so one of my favourite gifts to give is an experience. Wine and cheese sounds like a great way to spend quality time with loved ones.

For the Teacher
Jerrica Gets Crafty coffee cup decal
I love getting custom made coffee cups for my kids’ teachers. Every teacher needs another coffee cup, right?

Kevin Leboeuf
Father of one, co-owner Educated Beards

For the bee lover
Marrs Sweet Syrup
Honey, the amount of time and effort Tavis puts into getting his honey is unreal; it is absolutely pure gold in a liquid form. Marrs Sweet Syrup really cares about the quality of their products and it shows.

For the friend with the stiff back
Back in Balance Massage Therapy
Chris English has a true passion for the anatomy of the body; he has a gift that appears as if he can see through the skin and truly help with the pain you experience in your body. I have seen more than 40 massage therapists in my life and Chris is by far the best!

For your spouse
Robert Simmonds Clothing
When was the last time you had a garment that was truly fitted, that made you feel extremely comfortable and in style? This store offers an amazing experience. We rarely shop for ourselves, so why not offer something that they wouldn’t take the time for?

For the employee/friend
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
A membership to Fredericton’s renowned art gallery is a gift that keeps on giving. Every new exhibition is a must-attend; curator John Leroux has a keen eye for details and great art selection.

For the healthy friend
Aura Wholefoods giftcard
Sue truly cares care for what you put in and on your body. She provides an amazing selection of organic and natural foods, and body care products remedies. Her staff is very knowledgeable about everything in their store.

Chris Colepaugh
Father of one, Musician

For the stocking stuffers
Briggs Maple Products
Our house can’t get enough maple syrup. I especially like their darker runs. If you give their Chocolate River Station retail space a visit, you’ll find tons of ideas for small gifts and stocking stuffers.

For the family
Taj Mahal Moncton
We love food. There are not enough good things I can say about Taj Mahal. Gift Certificates are a great gift idea!

For the music lover
Riverview Arts Center
There are a lot of great art performances coming through Riverview, and tickets to the River Arts Center supports both the arts and your community.

For the little ones
Hop, Skip, Jump
Gift certificates to any kid for Hop Skip Jump are always a hit!

For the active outdoor type
Bob’s Sport Services
I’m an avid biker, so I’m at Bob’s every summer for my tune-up. They have lots of winter items and services too, so a gift certificate from them is a great fit for the outdoor enthusiast in your life.

Ingrid Munroe
Mother of three, The NB Box Owner

For the guys
Heaps Handworks or SunnyBank Printhouse shirts
Every guy in my life loves the fit, quality, and designs of these locally-designed shirts. They’re just cool.

For the person who has everything
Anointment’s Soothing Skin Ointment
This stuff is MAGIC and has endless applications. It’s all handmade in Sackville and will quickly become the go-to cure for minor scrapes, cuts, burns, and itchy skin.

For the eco-friendly
The Feel Good Store
I love gifting stainless steel straws and reusable produce bags picked up at The Feel Good Store!

For grandma
Good Fibrations
I always get a pair of warm wool knit socks and maybe a few woven tea towels or a throw from Good Fibrations. The quality of the work there is really next level and the pieces I’ve bought and gifted will last forever.

For the foodie
Brent Rourke at the Barn in Bloomfield
If I need a gift for the foodie in my life I am buying Brent Rourke’s whale tail salad tongs. I think they are just the coolest (I bought a pair for myself last year!).

Okay, who else bookmarked several items and loaded them into an online cart already?!

I know I made a few purchases putting together this list – and I added a few ideas to my list to Santa, too. What other made-in-New-Brunswick gifts are you giving (or hoping to receive) this year? Feel free to share in the comments; we always love a great gift suggestion!

A HUGE thanks to all the fine folks who agreed to share their gift ideas for this project; you can also find them in the pages of Family 1st / Famille en premier, a free, bilingual magazine available in Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton. Many of the parents who shared their Christmas gift ideas also have businesses you can support, either through gifts this season or simply by sharing their names and supporting them; please take the time to click through to their sites and see what they have to offer!

You might also want to check out our curated list from parents in 2018; we did a full 12 days of gift ideas and it was magical!

Pickle Planet’s 12 Days of Local Gifting