7 gift ideas for a Dayton-inspired Easter basket for all ages

Plants at Luna Gifts & Botanicals. CONTRIBUTED

Plants at Luna Gifts & Botanicals. CONTRIBUTED

Imagine receiving an Easter basket filled with all your local favorite treats. You might just think the Easter Bunny himself was from Dayton.

With tons of small, local shops to support in the Dayton-area, it’s so easy to put together an Easter basket that goes beyond jelly beans and Peeps. Here are 7 Easter basket shopping ideas for your little, or big, Daytonian this season.

🐰Hit up a Dayton farmer's Market

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Credit: Yellow Springs Farmers' Market

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Credit: Yellow Springs Farmers' Market

You never know what treasures you could find in Yellow Springs, especially at the Yellow Springs Farmer’s Market. The market is open one more time before Easter Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. this Saturday, April 20, giving you one last chance to find the most unique goodies. Local vendors and farmers will be outside all morning with gifts you might not have even thought of, but could be perfect for your local gift-lover.

LOCATION: 228 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs (Rear parking address)

INFO: Facebook 

>>This Dayton market won Best Place for Unique Gifts

The 2nd Street Market downtown, the first-place winner in the Best of Dayton 2018 contest for Best Place for Unique Gifts, is going to also be a great stop for unique Easter options. It's a destination for dining and shopping that is open year-round. It has a European market vibe and is filled with friendly local growers, bakers and artisans. The market is open year-round, with hours Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with LIVE music from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

When you're getting ready for family get-togethers and parties, stop in at 2nd Street Market for local produce, baked goods, spices, and other culinary delights. There are also many artisans and vendors to find gifts for everyone on your list. CONTRIBUTED

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LOCATION: 600 E. Second St. in Dayton

INFO: Website 

🐰Esther Price Fine Chocolates

>>Esther Price, Dayton's candy company founder: 'I was thrilled every time I stirred a pan of candy'

Esther Price Fine Chocolates still has candies that are hand-strung. A finger tip dipped into fresh chocolate creates a heart on top of the peanut butter creams and a swirl on top of the hand-rolled cherries. LISA POWELL / STAFF

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It would have been too obvious to put this as the first item on the list, because everyone knows you can’t go wrong gifting some Esther Price. We just thought you might need a reminder.

LOCATION: Multiple locations

INFO: Website

>>Best of Dayton 2018: Shopping & Services winners

🐰Luna Gifts & Botanicals

Plants at Luna Gifts & Botanicals. CONTRIBUTED

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>>The 7 friends you need to shop for at this downtown botanica

This is a treasure trove for springtime gift hunting. Luna Gifts & Botanicals, a small shop in the Oregon District, is certain to have just thing you were looking for, but didn’t know you were looking for. From tiny cactus plants that could fit in an Easter basket, to edible flower lollipops— you could really craft a special basket this Easter.

LOCATION: 261 Wayne Ave. in Dayton

INFO: Website

🐰Unique toys from local toy stores

>>Best of Dayton 2018: Shopping & Services winners

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Remember Mr. Fub's in Yellow Springs? That space is now home to Yellow Springs Toy Company, and it offers tons of unique gifts for the young and the young at heart. Toys, games, puzzles, pretend play costumes and sets, figures, books, kits and more line the shelves. The Yellow Springs Toy Company won third place in the Best of Dayton 2018 category for Best Place for Unique Gifts.

LOCATION: 252 Xenia Ave. in Yellow Springs

INFO: Website 

Another cool go-to for local, unique toys is Blue Turtle Toys in Oakwood. Blue Turtle has been a landmark in the Shops of Oakwood since 1999. In 2017, the store underwent some cosmetic changes and a replenishing of its inventory.

Blue Turtle Toys in Oakwood will close in May 2017 unless owner Carolyn Meyer can find a buyer. LYNN HULSEY/Staff

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LOCATION: 2314 Far Hills Ave. in Dayton

INFO: Website 

🐰Dayton chocolate bunnies

>>Here's why the 20th anniversary of a newspaper story is cause for celebration at Bellbrook Chocolates

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Bellbrook Chocolates just celebrated its 20th anniversary of a timeless newspaper story that declared its Easter Chocolate Rabbit the best-tasting in the region. "Customers old and new responded to the newspaper story with enthusiasm, just as founder Betty Blose had suspected they would. A line had formed at the door even before the shop opened. As the morning progressed, customers kept coming until the line was out the door and down the sidewalk. Later in the day, their supply was sold out," according to a previous report from this news outlet.

Two decades later, there are still plenty of bunnies and sweet treats perfect for the Easter basket.

LOCATION: 101 E Alex Bell Rd. in Centerville

INFO: Website

The Dayton-based coffee, wine and chocolates shop, Winans, also pulls out all the stops when it comes to Easter. You'll be able to find all the chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs and more at any one of the multiple Winans locations in the region.

LOCATIONSSee all here

INFO: Website 

🐰A gem from Ohio Silver Co.

Best of Dayton 2019 Best Jewelry Winner: Ohio Silver Co. CONTRIBUTED

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It’s true the season is not about the shiny things, although who wouldn’t love a bracelet or a pair of springtime earrings to remember Easter 2019 for years to come? Ohio Silver Co. in Yellow Springs was the first place winner in the Best of Dayton 2018 contest and has gorgeous, colorful treasures that would be a pleasant surprise for anyone.

LOCATION: 245 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs
INFO: Website

🐰A Dayton dining gift card

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Credit: Greek Street Food Truck

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Credit: Greek Street Food Truck

Don’t take our word for it. Our readers poured in hundreds of thousands of votes to determine the best foodie spots Dayton has to offer. Most of the Best of Dayton 2018 winners in the Food & Dining categories sell gift cards and one, or a few, stashed in an Easter basket would be more delicious than all the candy a basket could hold.

>>Best of Dayton 2018 winners: Food & Dining

See all of the food winners here to start getting an idea of which restaurant your person in mind might love.

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