Shop the historic blocks, not a mall
The concentration of independent retail runs along Baltimore Street and Steinwehr Avenue, with more on the side streets around the square.
Gift Hunting
Christmas Shopping in Gettysburg
Independent shops, antique dealers and local makers — the kind of holiday shopping that does not feel like a mall.
Shopping in Gettysburg happens on foot. Baltimore Street, Chambersburg Street and Steinwehr Avenue carry the bulk of the independent shops, and many of them are the sort of places where the person behind the counter made or chose what you are buying.
Expect antique and vintage dealers, bookshops, local food and wine producers, outfitters, art and pottery from Adams County makers, and a healthy supply of Civil War history for the readers on your list. Holiday markets and pop-up craft fairs join the line-up during the festival weekend in early December.
The practical advice is simple: shop in the afternoon while there is still daylight, leave your parcels at the inn, then come back out for dinner and the lights. Most shops in the historic district set their own December hours, so check ahead if you are chasing a specific store.
Before You Go
Christmas Shopping: what matters most
Catch the holiday markets
Pop-up markets and craft fairs run alongside the early December festival weekend, bringing local makers together in one place.
Buy local food and wine
Adams County growers and producers supply giftable food, cider and wine — easy to carry home and always welcome.
Our Suggestions
Ways to spend the day
Practical starting points, all within the historic district or a short drive of it.
Downtown
Baltimore Street boutiques
The main street through the historic district for gifts, books, antiques and locally made goods.
Downtown
Steinwehr Avenue
A second cluster of shops south of the square, decorated for the season and part of the Victorian Christmas walking area during the festival.
First weekend in December
Holiday markets & craft fairs
Seasonal markets gather makers, food vendors and handmade gifts into one venue for the festival weekend.
Gift idea
Give a Gettysburg getaway instead
If nothing on the shelf fits, a gift certificate to a historic inn is a present people actually use.
This Season
Happening while you're here
Events are added and verified by our team, and always link back to the organizer's own page.
December 4–6, 2026
Festival
A Gettysburg Christmas Festival
Gettysburg's community-wide holiday celebration, held on the first weekend in December, filling downtown from Lincoln Square to Steinwehr Avenue with entertainment, shopping, dining and lights.
Dates shown are the organizer's published festival weekend
Historic Downtown GettysburgDetails →
Friday, December 4, 2026
Tree Lighting
Tree Lighting Ceremony at Lincoln Square
The lighting of Gettysburg's town Christmas tree opens the holiday weekend, with a crowd gathering in Lincoln Square for carols and the countdown.
Ceremony time is confirmed by the organizer each season
Lincoln SquareDetails →
December 4–6, 2026
Concert & Theatre
Annual Tuba Carol Fest
The festival's long-running brass carol tradition, now in its 30th year, gathers tuba and euphonium players at Lincoln Square to play carols for the crowd.
Performance time published by the organizer
Lincoln SquareDetails →
Questions
Good to know
Are shops open on Sundays in December?
Many downtown shops do open on Sundays during the holiday season, though hours vary by store and some close on Christmas Day. Check individual shop pages before you travel.
Where do I park for downtown shopping?
There is metered street parking around Lincoln Square and public parking within a short walk of Baltimore Street. The festival weekend is the busiest, so arrive earlier in the day.
Is there anywhere to buy locally made gifts?
Yes. Local makers, food producers and artists from Adams County are represented in the downtown shops, and the seasonal craft markets concentrate even more of them in one place.
Event dates, prices and hours are set by each organizer and can change. Always confirm details on the organizer's page before travelling.
Stay Overnight
Turn your Christmas day trip into a winter getaway
Stay the night in a historic countryside inn and let the season slow down. Book direct for the best available rate.
Free Download
Free Gettysburg Christmas Weekend Guide
A printable Friday-to-Sunday route, the lights worth finding, and where to eat.