The 2021 holiday season is upon us! Spread holiday cheer this year with these 12 Mt. Lebanon gift ideas for all ages and budgets—and don’t forget to treat yourself!

Gifts for the history buff
Genealogy-related gifts like DNA tests and ancestry website subscriptions have been popular for years now, but there’s nothing like a personal touch when it comes to family history. In exchange for a donation of $200 to the Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon, Jim Stuber, local genealogy expert and member of the Mt. Lebanon Genealogy Society and Historical Society, will research the history of a couple from the 1930s or earlier and present findings in a personal meeting. This is a perfect gift for the history buff in your life who loves to tell family stories at holidays—and they may have a new story or two to add to the repertoire thanks to this gift! Contact mtlebanongs@gmail.com or 412-563-3689 for more information about the study and how to arrange one. Note that the research won’t be performed until after the holidays.

In addition to family history, celebrate your home’s history, too, through a National Historic District Medallion to display on your property. If you live in Mt. Lebanon’s Historic District, this is a great gift for the household or for the history fan in your home who loves to show off their knowledge of the neighborhood and Lebo pride. Visit the Historical Society website for more information on how to purchase a medallion and a map of contributing properties that qualify.

Gifts for the gardener
Spring may be months away, but you can bring joy to the gardener in your life this holiday season in a number of creative ways. For starters, you can’t go wrong with a live arrangement, an evergreen wreath, or centerpiece from one of Lebo’s great florists or garden centers.

If you’re thinking a bit bigger, arranging landscaping services such as snow removal for a lucky loved one or neighbor, or a spring yard cleanup to jump-start a green thumb’s spring flower bed plans might just make you the MVP of the holiday season.

According to Farmer’s Almanac, two big trends in gardening this year are bringing the outdoors in, as well as bringing the indoors outside. So for the gardener in your life who just can’t wait for the long Pittsburgh winter to pass, enhancing an indoor growing space with seed-growing kits, decorative flowerpots, or simply clearing a sunny windowsill to create a blank canvas for your gardener will likely be met with much appreciation. And for those who want to enjoy their outdoor space in comfort, a cozy outdoor couch or all-weather rug will give the garden that extra something special—just make sure you have somewhere to store it until it’s ready to be enjoyed!

Gifts for the adventurer
Is there someone on your list who prefers experiences over items? “Experience gifting” is in this year, according to CNBC. For the adventurer in your life, the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center offers a variety of classes, experiences and perks that are great for gift-giving for all ages. For the animal lover, consider tickets to the Pittsburgh Zoo, sold at a discount through the recreation center. For the fitness guru, check out Pilates, yoga, ice skating sessions at the rec center, and much more. For much-needed family fun to break up the winter doldrums, check out rec’s Mommy and Me sessions, and for the golfer, you can’t go wrong with a gift card to the Mt. Lebanon Golf Course.

A gift card to the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center is also a great way to encourage a loved one to choose their own adventure. See the Recreation Center website for offerings.

Gifts for free
For the book lover in your life (or for yourself!) take advantage of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s book bundles, available for adults, teens, and children. Choose from a variety of themes, and librarians will put together a bundle of content including books, movies, and music. Of course, bundles are borrowed and returned like other library items, but the knowledge and entertainment value gained are free and yours to keep! Visit the library website to request adult, teen, or children’s book bundles.

For everyone on your holiday list, and for yourself, too, give the gift of peace of mind by scheduling a home safety check courtesy of the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department, including a check of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Visit the Fire Department’s website to schedule a safety check or call 412-343-3402. If your loved ones don’t live in Lebo, check with their local fire department to see if a similar service is offered.

While these are only a small selection of gift ideas, Lebo businesses and organizations have so much more to offer this holiday season and beyond. What are your favorite Lebo-inspired gift ideas?