I live in the Midwestern city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and this city is a wonderful template for shopping local for Holiday gifts, food, and crafts. Fort Wayne is also steeped in tradition which lends itself to local shopping. A recent Journal-Gazette article by Bonnie Blackburn outlined a number of shops, stores, café’s, sandwich shops, and restaurants that are gearing up for the holiday season. A special feature was written detailing ways in which Fort Wayne residents could design their own staycation, spotlighting area museums, historical sites, and places to stay and tour.
Most towns, cities, and regions today are seeking out ways to target healthier and greener ways to celebrate this special time of year. It is nothing new. The holiday season has always been a commercial blast.
However, seeking out green and healthy ways in which you and your family can celebrate the holiday season in your own home town might take a little work, a little more effort, a little searching- but the results will be worth it.
Your family will find a common goal. Shopping at a local farmer’s market won’t just serve up fresh and seasonal foods. Farmer’s markets are normally filled with craftsperson’s, artists, and other types of vendors that just might have a treasure that would be a wonderful, and unique gift for those special someone’s in your life. It is also a fantastic time of year to try out those local restaurants that have become known for special comfort foods, or a slice and a pint. Here are three hints to help you start celebrating locally.
1) Don’t Start Early– If you are reading this now, it’s too late to start early anyway! Regardless, shopping local is most fun when it is the holiday season. The towns and cities are all decorated for the season, people are bustling around, and stores and shops are ready for you- with big smiles on their faces! 2) Buy a local newspaper– It’s still the best way to find out what is going on around town- Facebook and Twitter are great, but I will take my local newspaper and even my local neighborhood newspaper anytime when it comes to finding out what is really going on up the street. Plus, the fact that area coffees shops, stores, and other types of businesses often offer up discounts in these newspapers and let you know about seasonal events in just this way! 3) Check in with your local visitor’s center: There is nothing like visiting the place that brings tourists to your town to get a few great ideas about all the great deals and events that are taking place in your city during the holidays.
If you are like me, you might just be a hometown person- meaning, except for a few forays off into the wild blue yonder, you have pretty much lived in the same city all of your life. Good in some ways-but you just might be forgetting some of the treasure that exist in your own backyard- go find them and have a great holiday season!