The holiday shopping season is officially underway.
Shoppers got started dark and early to get Black Friday deals at Emporia’s larger retailers. Businesses are offering the traditional deep discounts Friday.
Nationwide, there are expectations for a strong season. The National Retail Federation expects sales to climb anywhere from 8.5 to nearly 11 percent from last year, while Deloitte expects November-to-January retail sales to jump 7-9 percent.
The holiday shopping season continues to pick up speed this weekend with Small Business Saturday activities across the KVOE listening area.
In Emporia, part of the shopping activities will include Emporia Main Street’s Elf Scavenger Hunt. Director Casey Woods says over 25 businesses are participating, with a raft of prizes up for grabs.
Woods says the holiday shopping season is typically big for local businesses. With everything that has happened through the COVID-19 pandemic, he says this shopping season is “crucial.”
Targeted discounts, entertainment and other promotions are also taking place at participating Emporia businesses on Saturday.
Among the special shopping events in the area will be the Chase County Country Christmas, which actually begins Friday evening with the Kid’s Night Before Christmas Out. Saturday activities include breakfast at Bulldoggers Diner, a silent auction and arts and crafts fair both starting at 9 am, Holiday Tables and Trees event starting at 10 am, Holiday Homes Tour starting at noon, visits with Cowboy Santa at the Chase County Courthouse starting at 4 pm and the lighting of the Chase County Courthouse and Historic River Bridge at 7 pm.
In Lebo, activities are loaded Saturday, including breakfast, the Jingle All the Way crafts fair from 10 am to 3 pm at Lebo Elementary, a showing of “The Grinch” at 10 am at Lebo High, chili cookoff, downtown lighting ceremony at 5 pm and Adult Reindeer Games at 7 pm.
