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It’s approaching quickly and will be here before we know it. Halloween is over, and Christmas is just around the corner. Well, after we pass the holiday with that big bird in it.
As we all gather to give thanks in two weeks, another tradition many look forward to is Black Friday. A day that has received controversy over the years as to how great an occasion it really is when we all have just gathered for thanksgiving only to push each other out of the way for deals a few hours later. Still, many residents enjoy the thrill and many local businesses have jumped on the wagon to bring the community savings like they didn’t expect when purchasing holiday gifts without the need to drive into neighboring towns and shop at “big box” stores.
In Wilmore, several surprises are up many store owners sleeves as they have taken it upon themselves to open not only on Saturday for Shop Small Saturday, but Friday as well this year because of the success they have received in years past.
For more information on this, keep your eyes glued to The Jessamine Journal in the coming weeks for an article highlighting all the goodies one can expect to find when they venture out to Wilmore and kick off the Christmas season in two weeks.
In Nicholasville, a tradition dating back five-to-six years, Ronda May from the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce said Shop Small Saturday started sometime after 2010 when American Express issued a nation-wide effort to recognize smaller businesses. With the challenge excepted, businesses in Wilmore and Nicholasville started offering promotions, specials and door prizes as part of a Shop Small Saturday event focusing on bringing shoppers back to Jessamine County and encouraging them to shop local. This year will be no exception as Nicholasville will highlight its small businesses as well.
If you’re just getting used to this cold weather and the thought that Halloween is now behind us, or if you can’t wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas there is one thing many of us have in common, and that is holiday shopping has now come upon us.
With the help of many small businesses in the community, this year you can shop local and still get something for everyone on your list.

Brittany Fuller is the community editor of The Jessamine Journal and Jessamine Life magazine. She can be reached at brittany.fuller@jessaminejournal.com.