Christmas decorations are popping up on homes around the city, and as of last week our downtown is once again decorated to the hilt ...  just in time for our annual Santa’s Parade of Lights coming up next Sunday, Nov. 29.

They can all mean only one thing: another holiday shopping season is upon us.  

But before you get discouraged with thoughts of bumper-to-bumper traffic, long lines and grumpy customers, try and take some solace in this: by this point last year we had all just finished digging ourselves out from the region’s first heavy snowfall.

Though a quick look out the window might fool you into thinking the next turkey you buy is for Thanksgiving, there’s no escaping it; you might as well grab hold of the reigns and hold on tight. It’s time to start crossing names off your shopping list.

Ironically (since all this craziness seemingly begins immediately after Halloween), the holiday season tends to bring out a Jekyll and Hyde in all of us.

Consumerism, which by definition is the equation of personal happiness with consumption and the purchase of material possessions, is at an all-time high over these few months.

Yet, it seems, as much as we like to get, many of us also really like to give. Each winter the Salvation Army and House of Blessing report staggering amounts of donations from the community, while many businesses hold their own unique fundraisers in support of various charities.

Some of that goodwill could be used locally in another way, too. While our economy has been improving slowly, shopping local remains critical to our city’s well-being.

To those who attended this past weekend’s Rotary Arts and Craft show, we salute you. For many local artists and entrepreneurs such events are the only opportunity to get their work noticed – and to get some funds to continue doing what they love.

For some of our businesses, a healthy holiday shopping season ensures their sustainability year-round.

As in the past, our shops continue to diversify and bring in products you might not expect to find here. Many of our stores are holding open houses throughout the next month, while others are offering specials and sales – just a few more reasons to resist travelling to a larger city or typing your credit card number into the computer this holiday season, and to spend your hard-earned dollars right here in the the Festival City.

-JH