Looking to spend locally this season? Check out these three holiday guides
Explore a curated collection of handcrafted goods, art, and experiences from Knoxville’s most talented makers and current UTK students. For those looking to give this season, United Way has a way to find impactful opportunities.
Two gift guides are circulating in the Knoxville area this holiday season: one from the Maker City and the other from the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) at the University of Tennessee. Additionally, the United Way of Greater Knoxville has unveiled a guide for how to make a local impact through giving (time, resources, and money) this holiday season.
The Maker City Holiday Gift Guide
The annual Maker City Holiday Gift Guide encourages Knoxvillians to buy local, handcrafted items as Christmas presents. All of the gifts in the guide are made by artists in the Maker City Directory or come from local small businesses.
Some of the available products include soaps, ornaments, hair & skin care, crafting classes, pottery, woodworks, and clothing items.
The ACEI Student Gift Guide
ACEI is bringing back the Holiday Gift Guide for its second year! In the first year, nine student businesses were featured in the catalogue, and this year, ACEI has its sights set on even more offerings. The Anderson Center is also encouraging alumni, community partners, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem supporters to support the Gift Guide initiative this holiday season.
“It’s our duty to support our own community, and we believe there’s no better way than investing in the entrepreneurial dreams of our students and peers,” the ACEI team said.
Voliday Guide
United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) is making it easier to give back this holiday season with the launch of its 2025 “Voliday Guide,” a one-stop resource for volunteer opportunities and giving options that support local nonprofits this holiday season.
The Voliday Guide features opportunities posted on Volunteer East Tennessee, including delivering meals to homebound seniors, wrapping gifts, helping agencies host holiday celebrations, distributing Angel Tree gifts, and more. A special section also highlights urgent needs and wish lists submitted by local partners.
The guide is available at uwgk.org/voliday-guide.
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