With Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Shop Local Saturday in the rearview and Christmas quickly approaching, local businesses are gearing up for one of the biggest shopping segments of the year.

While thinking of that perfect gift for a loved one(s), it is important to keep in mind that local businesses have plenty to offer in terms of uniqueness, selection and affordability. In the summer months, tourists come and spend money with these businesses that obviously contributes to the overall local economy. However, throughout the rest of the year, especially Christmas, it is up to the local population to spend their dollars with those businesses so it will end up staying in the local economy.

These are the businesses that contribute to local nonprofits and other organizations, spend money with other local businesses and help bring special programs and activities. It is vital to the local economy that local consumers spend money with local businesses in order to ensure the continuation of these organizations and special activities. In a small community, it’s safe to say, for the most part, that when one eats, we all eat, in a manner of speaking. Money funneled into the local economy will most likely stay in the local economy.

To aid in enticing locals to come into local businesses, the majority of downtown storeowners have joined together to host a variety of Christmas activities each Friday up until Christmas at their respective businesses. This ranges from opportunities to meet and take pictures with Santa to featuring holiday films and more. These are perfect opportunities for parents to be able to get some Christmas shopping done, locally, while having something to occupy their children.

These local businesses, with all they contribute to local charities, nonprofits and more, deserve the business of local consumers and should be, at the very least, visited to see what they have to offer.