PDD Gift Guide 2025
Make your list and check it twice. This year’s Perfect Duluth Day Gift Guide features 16 items from local artists and manufacturers that will jingle all your gift-giving bells this holly-jolly season. It’s the year of the collab, with three items on the list produced by two entities working together on a single product.
UpNorthMNmade Wool Owls
These handcrafted owls are the perfect stocking stuffer for people whoooooo just have everything. UpNorthMNmade is run by Sue Matuszak — a multimedia artist who takes old fabric scraps, buttons and other upcycled materials and brings new life into them. These owls are crafted from recycled wool fabric and can be found at Alt Creative, along with other little guys from UpNorthMNmade.
Roasted Just Right Travel Mug
The holidays bring lots of chaos, both good and bad. People are running around doing last-minute shopping, picking up the honey ham and running the Florida in-laws from Duluth International Airport to Lakeside. No matter the destination, the folks at Duluth Coffee Company want coffee-lovers to remember their coffee beans are always roasted just right and this travel mug will remind them of just that. The mug can be purchased for $25 on Duluth Coffee Company’s website.
Smoked Salmon Dream Box
The Smoked Salmon Dream Box is a sampler of salmon from Duluth’s own Northern Waters Smokehaus. The flavors include traditional, dill, Cajun and black pepper & coriander. But the practical matter is this: it can be shipped nationwide. That loved one who moved to Utah and misses Northern Waters salmon can soon have a chilled package at her doorstep. Each fillet is hand trimmed and packaged without the use of artificial colors or preservatives. Boxes can be ordered off the Northern Waters website.
Woodfire Seasonal Candle Subscription
It’s no Jelly of the Month Club subscription, but it is the next best thing for the festive Clark Griswold in your life. This aromatic subscription box is shipped four times a year and consists of hand-selected seasonal candles and other scented products. Each box costs $50 and includes products that would total $75 if purchased separately. The December box must be ordered by Nov. 30 and can be found on the Woodfire Candle website. Once the first order is placed, the candles keep coming every three months.
Skull Cups
Karin Kraemer throws and glazes these ceramic skull cups at Duluth Pottery and Tile Studio in Lincoln Park. Though they are designed for the Halloween season, the scary sippers are an excellent Christmas gift for those who prefer the aesthetic contrast of a haunted holiday and generally enjoy an unending spooky season. The cups come in three sizes, and the large has the option of adding a handle. They can be picked up in person at the shop, 1924 W. Superior St. in Duluth, or via the online store.
SHT Trail Store / Wintergreen Northern Wear Classic Beanie
The Superior Hiking Trail Association is partnering with Wintergreen Northern Wear in Ely to offer collaborative merch. The classic beanie sports both the Wintergreen and SHT logo, with some of the proceeds supporting the 310-mile footpath that follows Minnesota’s North Shore. The beanie and other collaboration pieces can be ordered online via the Superior Hiking Trail website.
The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Stuff the stockings of the booknerds and boatnerds with the latest tome about Lake Superior’s most famous vessel. The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald is a New York Times Best Seller that tells the story of the ship’s journey across Lake Superior, now 50 years ago, and the men who went down with it. The book can be found at local bookstores and also online. For a list of more local books, visit the PDD post Duluth Book Releases in 2025.
Lino Block Prints by Wesley
Lino Block printing is not for the faint of heart, however, local artist Wesley, better known online as Souppwizard, has mastered the art. All designs are hand-carved into linocut blocks and pressed by Wesley. Designs are inspired by everything from cats to song lyrics to the artist’s own pantry. Wesley’s prints can be found at Alt Creative.
On the Rocks Gift Set
Ice ice, Santa Baby. Lake Superior Magazine is dropping something pretty cool this holiday season. The On the Rocks gift set includes two 11-ounce tumblers engraved with the tagline: “Not Just Great … Superior,” and an ice cube tray capturing just how great the lake is. The set can be ordered for $44 on the Lake Superior Magazine gift shop.
Cider Whiskey from Duluth Whiskey Project
Duluth is known for its beers and ciders, but several distilled beverages have also been gaining attention in recent years. Duluth Whiskey Project opened a cocktail lounge in Lincoln Park this year and its Cider Whiskey is a gift that fits the warm-and-cozy-by-the-fireplace vibe. The 750-milliliter bottles are available at the new lounge and also at select liquor stores.
CindraArt Northwoods Animal Cards
The woods of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin are home to many critters, and Saginaw artist Cynthia Hinkley has captured the beauty of several of them in her newest collection of 5-by-7-inch greeting cards. The Northwoods collection consists of drawings that feature gray wolves, black and brown bears, squirrels, loons and many more native babes. The Northwoods collection and others can be found at both Alt Creative and online on the CindraArts website.
Classy and Sassy Earrings
Hang in there this holiday season and pick out a pair of Natasha’s Things out-of-the-box earrings for the quirky kid in the family. Instead of the basic hoops and diamonds, artist Deb Hannu focuses on jewelry made from board game pieces, clothes pins and even plastic doll boots. A small selection of her work can be found on the Natasha’s Things website. More pairs are available at Alt Creative.
Alan Sparhawk With Trampled by Turtles on Vinyl
For a doubleshot of Duluth, hillsider Alan Sparhawk turned to the Duluth-formed bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles to back him on his second solo album. After years of friendship and collaboration, Sparhawk and TBT released a full-length record in 2025. The sunflare-orange record can be ordered for $25 on Bandcamp. The purchase includes unlimited streaming of the album on the Bandcamp app and digital download options. For more local album release options visit the post “Duluth Album Releases in 2025.”
Duluth Pack Cirrus Duffel with Parachute Lining
Cirrus has collaborated with Duluth Pack to create a bag designed for travelers. The parachute-lined duffle bag is aviation-inspired; it’s equipped with two side-zipper pockets and room to hold weekend gear and everyday traveler accessories. The inner lining is made of upcycled Cirrus parachute canopies stitched in Duluth. The duffle and all of the other bags in this upcycled collection can be purchased online at the Cirrus Store.
Tarot Readings
Calling all winter witches! What says Merry Christmas like the spiritual experience of a tarot card reading? Carolyn Kerns, better known as “The Northwoods Witch,” has been reading tarot and identifying as a witch for more than 15 years. She offers full and mini tarot card readings, in-person and over the phone, for those looking to understand how their actions affect their life’s journey. The sessions range in price depending on length and can be booked on the Northwoods Witch website.
Pique & Ponder Card Deck
Duluth’s Tracy Champlin provides the photos and words for this 72-card deck, encouraging those seeking deeper understanding and self-awareness to do so. Each photo card is paired with a prompt that allows the individual to “pique and ponder” some of life’s questions. The deck can be purchased for $34.95 on the Stoneweaver website.