Team AAM is already on the hunt for the best products for our 2026 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide, but we’re giving you a sneak peek of our guide!
Sick of the summer heat? Escape to the North Pole with us, if only in spirit, for an American-made Christmas-in-July respite! Though we’ve got six months to go before Santa’s big day, the Alliance for American Manufacturing is jumpstarting our holiday shopping research (and saving up for the retail blitz) with a preview of items from our much-anticipated 2026 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide!
Before we dive in, we also want to share a little love for the American-made roots of “Christmas in July” itself. The tradition got its start at an all-girls camp in Brevard, N.C., in 1933, with laundry bags repurposed as stockings and fake snow made of cotton. That same focus on connection over consumerism is at the heart of our gift guides. Though we’re spotlighting products, our hope is that it’s the people who make them that really shine through.
Whether you need a gift for your partner who loves to hike, the parent who has everything, or the coworker who’s always crafting, here’s a head start to holiday shopping! Need more options? Check out our 10 past editions of the Made in America Holiday Gift Guide here!
Email us at [email protected] if you have any suggestions for our full 2026 selections. Reader recommendations have uncovered some of our favorite brands!
GIFTS FOR THE KIDS
A staple of every childhood is seeing the world in a whole new light with a kaleidoscope. Designed and handmade by artists in Iowa and Arkansas, the Wooden 5.5 Inch long Laminated Solid Woods Teleidoscope, which creates geometric patterns through optical lenses rather than beads as a kaleidoscope does, will captivate your kids while becoming a new heirloom gift.
If your child has missed out on the classic 90s experience of having yo-yo demonstrators visit their elementary school, this Christmas is the time to pass on the memories. Bring back “Walking the Dog” with a Clean Tangerine Classic Laminated Wood Yo-Yo designed in San Francisco by Tom Kuhn, a yo-yo visionary who moonlights as a dentist. If you can’t remember all of your old tricks, don’t worry; the yo-yo comes with a trick guide, spare string, and a drawstring carry pouch.
For the kiddos who won’t stop watching “Cars” on repeat, recreate the movie magic at home with a Classic 15-Foot Race Track Starter Set + Blu Track® Racers (2-Pack). The set comes with a flexible track built for loops and sharp turns, as well as two side-by-side lanes for racing. Manufactured in Anamosa, Iowa, this set can be easily rolled up for holiday travel plans.
Create a fairy tale at home with a Dragon & Knight Reversible Cape Set made in Golden Valley, Minn. The one-size set includes a reversible cap, armbands and a helmet so kids can seamlessly switch between a green scaled dragon and chainmail knight.
When toys are eventually tossed aside, and the chilly weather calls for a family movie night, settle in with a Reindeer from Hooked and Loopy. Each 10” reindeer is crocheted in Washington, D.C., with 100% cotton yarn that is machine washable — just in case the hot cocoa spills. Depending on your child’s favorite reindeer, you can have the nose embroidered black or red, as well as pick a name, or opt for a surprise name!
Parents, the struggle of making learning enjoyable, especially over school breaks, is real. Thankfully, Weave-n-Wonder has already done the work by producing the Limited Edition Ornament Kit. While your kids are busy creating an ornament for the Christmas tree, the weaving teaches math, pre-coding and social-emotional skills. Made in Hudson, Ohio, by a mom and educator, these kits make STEAM fun.
STOCKING STUFFERS
What is a Christmas stocking without a refill of lip balm? If you’re feeling the Christmas spirit, Badger produces a festive Holiday Lip Balm Set from Gilsum, N.H. The antioxidant-rich collection, featuring lavender orange and pink grapefruit scents, is USDA-certified organic and cruelty-free.
Next up on the stocking stuffer checklist is a pair of socks to battle the cold winter weather. Darn Tough’s Men’s and Women’s Apres Heavyweight Shorty 2-Pack comes with a lifetime warranty, whether you are lounging by the fireplace or hitting the slopes. This pack comes with a pair for men and women from their factory in Northfield, Vt. Merino Wool wicks moisture and traps heat, while the design goes above and beyond with built-in arch support and undetectable toe seams.
Another practical yet luxurious stocking stuffer is the Escape Sleep Mask, designed in Los Angeles. The TencelTM Modal fibers are built to last through each wash while being smooth, soft and resistant to pilling. The interior padding even provides a contoured fit that can comfort the wildest of sleepers.
Perfect for both family game nights or a solo moment of peace, Wizard of Oz Playing Cards are sure to entertain. With each round of Go Fish, the limited-edition deck will inspire nostalgia with its gold-foiled tuck box. Even if your family somehow isn’t a fan of Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion, Bicycle crafts a variety of high-quality card designs from their headquarters in Erlanger, Ky.
Whether you’re treating the family to seasonal phone upgrades or simply taking care of your current one, toss in Armor Suit Screen Protectors. This pack can fill three stockings with a practical gift the family is guaranteed to use. Made in Southern California, these military-grade protectors include a lifetime warranty.
Another practical yet luxurious stocking stuffer is the Escape Sleep Mask,designed in Los Angeles by America’s first Asian female fighter pilot, Leah Murakami. The TencelTM Modal fibers are built to last through each wash while being smooth, soft and resistant to pilling. The interior padding even provides a contoured fit that can comfort the wildest of sleepers.
Christmas also calls for consuming an absurd amount of sweets. Before New Year’s resolutions take effect, fill your stockings with a 6-Bar Nut and Sea Salt Trio Gift Box made in the Rocky Mountains of Boulder, Colo. Containing six bars in three popular flavors, you can fill the whole family’s stockings with a single purchase.
A stocking simply wouldn’t be complete without one out-of-the-box collectable. The Mr. Claus Pocket Pet is an adorable, 3D-printed figurine that fits in the palm of your hand and comes to you from Albuquerque, N.M. With full tactile movement, these tiny companions make a great desk decoration or on-the-go fidget. (Our own Matt McMullan’s desk is home to a petite pickle from the company.)
The Alliance for American Manufacturing does not receive a commission from purchases made through the above links, nor was the organization or author paid for favorable coverage.
Labeling Note: This story is intended to highlight companies that support American jobs and that make great products in the United States. We rely on the companies listed to provide accurate information regarding their domestic operations and their products. Each company featured is individually responsible for labeling and advertising their products according to applicable standards, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” standard or California’s “Made in USA” labeling law. We do not review individual products for compliance or claim that because a company is listed in the guide that their products comply with specific labeling or advertising standards. Our focus is on supporting companies that create American jobs.
For more on the Federal Trade Commission’s standards for “Made in USA” claims and California’s “Made in USA” labeling law, please also read this guest post by Dustin Painter and Kristi Wolff of Kelly Drye & Warren, LLP.