The Christmas Haus
Gettysburg is best known as the site that changed the course of the Civil War in July 1863 and home of the cemetery where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address.
But it may surprise some that this historic town is also full of restaurants and stores, making it the perfect place to visit during the holiday shopping season.
“Shopping in Gettysburg is truly a unique experience where shoppers will find a variety of eclectic household items and décor, clothing, handcrafted artwork and more,” said Carl Whitehill, vice president of the marketing agency Destination Gettysburg. “It truly is like stepping back in time and immersing in the traditions of the holiday season.”
The historic borough is a 45-minute drive from Harrisburg, with most of the trip occurring on smooth U.S. Route 15. The easiest way to access downtown is to enter “Race Horse Alley Parking Garage” into your GPS, since the four-story structure is a short walk from many attractions.
The Majestic Theatre
Next to the parking garage is the Majestic Theater, which has stood in the center of town since 1920. Tickets to the theater’s many 2023 offerings, including The Met Live in HD, National Theatre Live, Trinity Irish Dance Company and the Ken Burns Film Festival, are easy gifts to carry around while exploring other stores.
“Performing arts and cinema are so powerful because audiences are left with lasting memories of the experiences they shared with artists and each other,” said Jeffrey Gabel, Majestic Theater’s founding executive director.
The theater is a few steps from the picturesque Lincoln Square, the site of a large Christmas tree and “Santa’s Shanty,” where youngsters can share their Christmas wishes with the jolly man himself. The square is also home to several unique offerings, including Lark Gifts, Oh, Man! Gifts for Men, and Ploughman Cider Taproom.
Lark Gifts is located inside a former home that was built in 1885. The building rests on the foundation of one of the first houses built on the Square in 1799. Despite its history, Lark owner Timbrel Wallace takes pride in being “a modern marketplace.” Here shoppers can find almost anything, including home decor, whimsical socks, books, puzzles, treats from nearby Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium, and practical items such as earbud cleaning kits and tick-removing tools.
“I listen a lot to customer feedback,” Wallace said. “I try to find what qualities of a product attract customers while focusing on giftability.”
Four streets extend from Lincoln Square—Carlisle (north), York (east), Chambersburg (west) and Baltimore (south).
Shopping options are sparse on Carlisle Street, but Local Flora and Plant Design offers beautiful centerpieces that will add pop to a holiday dinner table. Kip & Idle Home touts itself as a “one-stop shop for designs and decor as unique as you.”
Heading west, Chambersburg Street is home to Adams County Winery, Fresh Boutique, A&A Village Treasures, Sunrise Soap Company and Sweet Repeat Records. The history lover on your list may enjoy a gift from the Army Surplus Store. Dining options here include Gettysburger, Ragged Edge Coffeehouse, Food 101 and Garryowen Irish Pub.
“We have a lot of customers who purchase fresh-roasted, whole bean or ground coffee as stocking stuffers,” said Ragged Edge owner Jacob Schindel.
Nerd Herd Gifts & Games
Returning to the Square and heading east on York Street, Nerd Herd Gifts and Games is a fun spot with a giant chessboard and cornhole games outside of its entrance.
Lea Haskins, Nerd Herd daytime manager, said that the store offers fun for all ages and interests. This year’s hottest game is “Mind the Gap, A Trivia Game for the Generations.”
“It is a great game for families who are getting together,” Haskins said. “You can work cooperatively or pit the generations against each other.”
Artworks Gift Shop and Gallery 30 are must-stops for those with finer tastes. Our four-legged friends are also part of our holiday gatherings, so a visit to The Lucky Paw will make it easy to check them off your list.
If your arms are tired by then, the parking garage is located directly behind York Street so you can unload your treasurers before continuing.
Baltimore Street is the historic corridor President Lincoln traversed on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address. Many of the buildings Lincoln saw still stand, but our 16th president did not have the opportunity to shop at Four Corners Comics and Games, Dirty Billy’s Hats, Sweeet! The Candy Store in Gettysburg, Gettysburg Polish Pottery, Martin’s Family Shoes or The Antique Center of Gettysburg.
Sweeet!
Madi Eckard, Sweeet! employee, said the store prides itself on using more than 20 different candy distributors so it can offer items not available anywhere else in the area. Leninade, a communist-themed red lemonade soda, is the store’s most popular item.
“We probably go through a case a week in the slow season,” Eckard said.
Lincoln Square and its adjoining streets are Gettysburg’s most popular area, but there is another shopping district visitors often overlook—Steinwehr Avenue. It is walkable from the parking garage, but those who have difficulty spending extended time on their feet would be better off moving their car from the garage to Steinwehr’s on-street metered parking.
Town leaders improved the Steinwehr Avenue visitor experience about five years ago by widening the sidewalks, adding streetlights and bike ramps, and repaving the road. The enhanced features make it easy to shop at the street’s many stores, including Rosie’s Collection, Kilwin’s Chocolates, Civil War Store Gift Shop and Jenni’s Funhouse. If you are on Steinwehr after 6 p.m., celebrate your shopping success with a drink at the unique Reliance Mine Saloon, an underground bar that resembles the interior of a coal mine.
Hopefully, your shopping is complete after a trip to downtown Gettysburg. If a few items remain on your list, the Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, three miles south of town, offers dozens of retailers. Another option is to head east on York Road toward New Oxford, eight miles east of Gettysburg, home to dozens of antique stores with truly unique offerings.
For more information on visiting Gettysburg, visit www.destinationgettysburg.com.
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