With the weather cooling down and the holiday hustle beginning, now’s the perfect time to start planning festive get-togethers. Whether you're hosting a small gathering or a big soiree, getting ahead on holiday prep can make all the difference. To help us get ready for a season of celebrations, Shop TODAY editorial director Adriana Brach stopped by Studio 1A to share her top entertaining picks — starting at just $5!
Brach is kicking things off with simple (and sure-to-please) hostess gifts: Harry & David baskets! The brand has officially landed at Target and each food-filled bundle is topped with a bow, making them ready to give with no extra effort required. To seamlessly add a seasonal touch to your spread, Brach suggests a whimsical sleigh-shaped serving board, which can be filled with Good & Gather 's pre-made charcuterie, as well as Stonewall Kitchen’s lineup of jams and preserves.
Holiday hosting wouldn't be half as nice without a beautiful space to gather in, and Brach is loving a Hearth & Hand with Magnolia brass candelabra, which makes creating a centerpiece easy, especially when topped with the brand's flameless taper candles.
Plus, she spotted a few small decor pieces, from Featherly Friends to John Derian stockings, all of which will help you get a luxe look on a budget. And last but not least, she's eyeing a 6 1/2-foot pre-lit tree on Black Friday deal for less than $50! You don't want to miss it.
Ready to get your home ready for holiday hosting? Keep scrolling to shop this list. You can even add every pick to your cart with one click! (And if you’re looking for more great deals, Target’s Black Friday sale is now live.)
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Wondershop Pre-Lit LED Alberta Spruce Artificial Christmas Tree (6.5 Foot)
$37.50
$75.00
2 of 29
Wondershop Christmas Featherly Friends Bird
$5.00
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Harry & David Christmas Gift Basket
$19.98
4 of 29
Harry & David Christmas Gift Tote
$24.99
5 of 29
Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Ribbed Flameless Taper Candles (6 Pack)
$29.99
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Threshold Sleigh Figural Serving Board
$25.00
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Good & Gather Charcuterie Entertaining Tray
$15.89
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Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Sampler Collection Jams and Preserves Gift Set (6 Piece)
$23.99
9 of 29
Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Metal Tabletop Brass Candelabra
$29.99
10 of 29
Wondershop Sisal Bottle Brush Tree Christmas Figurine Set (Set of 6)
$15.00
11 of 29
John Derian for Target Toy Print Stocking
$25.00
12 of 29
Wondershop Shatter-Resistant Round Christmas Tree Ornament Set (50 Count)
$20.00
13 of 29
Shark Steam Pocket Mop S3501
$49.99
$99.99
14 of 29
Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL
$89.99
$179.99
15 of 29
Shark Rocket Pet Corded Stick Vacuum
$99.99
$199.99
16 of 29
Cuisinart Stainless Steel Air Fryer Toaster Oven
$99.99
$229.99
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Threshold Swirled Glass Jar Candle
$5.00
18 of 29
Threshold Collectible Tumbler
$5.00
19 of 29
Threshold Reindeer Wine Stopper
$6.00
20 of 29
Threshold Ribbed Stemmed Cassin Wine Glass
$8.00
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Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Small Brass Cypress and Santal Bell Candle
$8.99
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Wondershop Photo Frame Stocking Holder
$7.60
$12.00
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Threshold Ceramic LED Church Christmas
$15.00
24 of 29
Threshold Christmas Tree Mantel Countdown Calendar
$25.00
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Houdini Electric Wine Corkscrew Set
$27.99
$32.99
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R.W. Flame Stainless Steel Countertop Ice Maker
$69.99
$99.99
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Staub Ceramic Baking Pans (Set of 4)
$99.18
$342.00
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Bartesian Duet Cocktail Machine
$249.99
$299.99
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Ninja Luxe Café Premier Series 3-in-1 Espresso, Coffee and Cold Brew Machine
$499.99
$599.99
If you still need a Christmas tree for this year, you don’t want to miss this 40% off deal as part of Target’s Black Friday sale, which officially started Nov. 23. A show stopper on a budget, this traditional spruce comes in five sizes ranging from 3 to 9 feet tall. This one is 6 1/2 feet, yet it’s just $45! According to the brand, it’s pre-lit with 250 LED bulbs, which makes set up quick and easy. The lights change colors and boast flashing and fading effects, too.
Featherly Friends are always popular with our editors! The whimsical fabric birds come in nearly a dozen variations, each with its own personality. Hosting a holiday party? Choose one for each guest’s place setting — your guests will love taking their Featherly Friend home with them. Or, place them on end tables or perch them on a garland, wreath or even the branches of your tree.
When it comes to hostess and host gifts, you can't go wrong with food! That said, Brach was excited to see Harry & David arrive at Target just in time for the holidays. The brand's gift sets are very popular, especially for special occasion gifting, but shipping can often be costly. But now that the brand is available at Target, you don't have to worry about those steep shipping costs. This one includes chocolates, crackers and a snack mix, making it perfect for a party.
This slightly larger option comes in a woven tote and includes shortbread cookies and a red pepper relish, in addition to chocolates and crackers. Since it's pre-packaged with a bow, it also saves you the hassle of wrapping (especially if you’re running out the door for an evening party). These sets are worth buying for your own holiday party, too! It’s so quick and easy to open it up and plate the nibbles as your guests are arriving.
Next, Brach found these battery-operated flameless taper candles, which are actually made from real wax! As a mother of two young children, she loves that she doesn’t have to worry about the hazard of genuine flames. And since they’ll never melt, you can re-use them season after season.
Speaking of serving, the Shop TODAY team is into this sleigh-shaped charcuterie board. With brass legs and a wooden top, it’s really unique, but still elegant. Adding it to the table makes festive decor so simple — just add your usual charcuterie on top and you’re done!
The charcuterie itself is so easy, too. Good & Gather released these pre-made trays which contain Castelvetrano olives, mild white cheddar, various salamis, dark chocolate-covered cashews and sesame crackers — and they're just $13 each! We recommend keeping a couple of them in your fridge so you can easily pop them onto your board when you're ready.
More Good & Gather entertaining picks:
Looking for an elevated jelly or two to add to your board? Opt for this Stonewall sampling set, which contains a curated collection of mustards, jams and jellies. It makes a lovely gift for any foodie, too.
For displaying your taper candles, consider this timeless brass candelabra. It's a beautiful centerpiece for your dining room table, mantel and beyond. The best part? It's all one piece, so you don't have to spend time thinking about how to arrange taper holders, which means decorating is easy.
Brach's also loving these pretty bottle brush trees, which are available in three colors. She notes that they look especially cute when paired with Christmas villages or tealights.
This gorgeous linen stocking is by John Derian, the famous designer known for his whimsical style. In recent years, he's been collaborating with Target on holiday collections and they always sell out! Score this before it's gone (there's a red one, too).
Iif you need a few new ornaments, consider this set of 50 for $20! They come in eight color combinations and pet owners will be glad to know that they're shatter-resistant.
More Target Black Friday deals
Holiday prep involves deep cleaning, too. Thanks to the simple power of steam, this mop can remove grease, grime and more with just water. Right now, it’s on a rare 50% off deal!
Ahead of Black Friday, this Ninja air fryer is 50% off! It's great for everything from weeknight meals to prepping appetizers for a crowd.
Whether you have hardwood, tile or carpet, this vacuum works well on all floor types. According to the brand, it can be turned into a handheld vacuum as well, which is ideal for furniture.
Cooking for a crowd this season? This air fryer (which is almost 60% off!) can make prep more efficient.
More Target holiday hosting picks
With this small votive, you can fill your home with a fresh holiday scent for just $5!
I (Marrison) can speak to this pick from personal experience: This fall, a group of friends and I went to a cottage to celebrate Friendsgiving. Someone brought this candle and while we burned it from nearly morning to night both days, there was still a ton of wax left on Sunday evening. I love this Apple Cinnamon scent, and the shade of green meets the moment (although there are a ton of color-scent combinations to choose from). Plus, the bow makes it super giftable (and the price is right).
Add an extra dose of holiday cheer to your glassware collection with these traditional, gold-rimmed tumblers. There's a Santa option, too!
The perfect gift for a white elephant party, this reindeer wine stopper is equal parts fun and timeless.
Need a few fresh wine glasses to prepare for the season? These ribbed glasses from Threshold's Cassin Collection are on-trend and just $8 per glass.
This bell candle is too cute! With the lid on, it looks like any other piece of brass decor, yet there's a woodsy aroma waiting inside.
At just $12, these make an affordable addition to your holiday decor or an easy-to-customize gift.
Looking to expand on your Christmas village? This earthenware church is beautiful and pre-lit with a battery-operated LED bulb, so you can light it up without needing a real flame. Score the matching house and tree!
This year, let your countdown calendar double as decor. Children will love adding a tree each day!
This one's for the wine lovers! For less than $30, this six-piece Houdini set contains an electric corkscrew, aerator, foil cutter and two stoppers, all on one organized stand. It makes a great white elephant gift, too!
When it's time for entertaining, you'll want ice on deck. This affordable ice maker will come in handy when festive drinks are flowing.
Have a homebody on your list? This four-piece Staub set, which includes three stoneware baking dishes and a square lid, is sure to please — and right now, it's over 70% off!
More Staub deals:
- Ceramic Rectangular Bakeware Set (2 Piece), $59.99 from $142 (58% off)
- Ceramic Oval Bakeware Set (2 Piece), $59.99 from $142 (58% off)
Love custom cocktails but don't love the work? This easy-to-use Bartesian can save you the trouble. Like a single-serve coffee maker but for alcoholic drinks, it can make everything from a margarita to a whiskey sour with the click of a button.
Shop TODAY production coordinator Camryn Privette owns one and says it's "super simple to use." According to her, "just pop in your favorite drink mix (mine is the Golden Ace), make sure your liquor of choice is filled, pick your glass size and you’re ready to go." She adds, "I like how you can also pick the strength of the drink since some days you’re feeling a heavier pour than others. And it’s great for the holidays so you can get back to entertaining and leave the bartending to someone else!"
Have family or friends staying the night? Chances are, they'll want a healthy dose of caffeine in the morning. This impressive Ninja machine makes classic coffee, lattes, cappuccinos and even cold brew! Not to mention, it'll look super luxe on your countertop.
Shop TODAY deputy editorial director Alexandra Deabler is a huge fan of this machine: "I love it. I use it every day. It’s expensive, but if a cappuccino or latte (what I would order) costs around $6+ on average, and I drink it every day, that’s over $2,000 per year. So... you’re saving money here!" She also notes that it's held up over time. "I’ve had it for over a year at this point and it still works great. I make lattes and cappuccinos mostly, but my boyfriend uses it exclusively for cold brew all year long. They even have a cold espresso pull, which is cool. Maintenance is also a piece of cake. I’ve only had to clean it once in all the time I’ve had it, and it prompts you, so you don’t have to worry about when to clean or descale."
How we chose
We consulted Shop TODAY editorial director Adrianna Brach, as well as the Shop TODAY editorial team, for items that are editor-approved based on style, theme and seasonality. To round out the list, we also considered items with high customer ratings.
For sponsored content, the Shop TODAY editorial team independently chooses products to recommend that are sold by the retailer (in this case, Target). The retailer does not review or approve the content. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
Meet the expert
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Adrianna Brach.
- Adrianna Brach is the editorial director at Shop TODAY, with over a decade of experience as an editor covering beauty, fashion and shopping.
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