Whether you hear the sleigh bells jingling, or see the illuminated snowflakes draped across light poles in Elizabethton, residents know it’s a special time of the year.
The festive joy has been ever-apparent in Historic Downtown Elizabethton, where businesses recently had the opportunity to show off their inventory and mingle with individuals during the recent Downtown Christmas Open House.
“It was wonderful,” Downtown Business Association President Cathy Shoun said. “It was one of the best open houses I can remember. There wasn’t a parking spot and the sidewalks were lined up with people visiting the different shops. People were shopping, visiting the stores and everyone seemed to enjoy it.”
Shoun added that she spoke with attendees as far as Knoxville who stopped by to take part in the excitement.
“I spoke with our different shop owners and they said they did very well,” she said. “Each of the businesses were able to have different sales, giveaways and some even held door prizes.”
It was an unofficial start to the holiday season in downtown. Following the Open House, the area was illuminated by the lighting of the Fraser Fir and Lynn Mountain lights as hundreds looked on while congregated downtown.
“It’s been such a great time,” Shoun said. “You can see the holiday spirit downtown and our businesses are seeing it too.”
And with Thanksgiving around the bend – so comes the Christmas shopping.
Interested individuals are encouraged to make a trip downtown on Saturday, Nov. 26, for the eighth annual Small Business Saturday event.
The event kicked off seven years ago after being created by American Express in response to small business owners’ need: getting more customers during the holiday season.
In 2015, 95 million consumers shopped small on Small Business Saturday, up from 8.2 percent in 2014. According to information provided to the Elizabethton Star, U.S. consumers who were aware of Small Business Saturday spent $16.2 billion at local and independent businesses during the day.
Encouraged by President Barack Obama and elected officials across the country, Shoun said the time of the year is important for community to support their local small businesses.
“It goes with the time of the year,” Shoun said. “It’s always greet to see shoppers come in and shop local and support their businesses.”
Following up Small Business Saturday, downtown will also be a hotbed of action on Saturday, Dec. 3, with the annual Christmas Parade.