Shop Small Is Success

Last Saturday’s Shop Small promotion, encouraging people to do their Christmas shopping with small businesses, and to shop locally, boded well for many merchants.

The Visitors’ Center, where Santa was located, was a flurry of activity with children having cookies with Santa, free gift wrapping offered, and persons dropping off their receipts to be entered in a drawing for a big prize.

Several merchants said sales were up over previous years, and it was a festive day for all, with Les Steele playing Christmas music on the keyboard outside the Visitors’ Center, and shoppers scurrying about.

This week brings “A 1950’s Christmas,” the annual Christmas concert by the Monticello Community Band, today, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. There’s also a business after hours at the Visitors’ Center before the concert.

On Saturday, the Polar Express will be at the home of Tricia Armistead on Forsyth Street. Bring a gift for a child to benefit ML&J fund. There’s also a book signing and art show at The Vanilla Bean.