Business & Tech

Livin' la Vida Local

Tips, tools and perks for doing your holiday shopping here in Elk Grove

Black Friday marks the start of the holiday shopping season, and Elk Grove businesses are eager to remind shoppers that buying locally can benefit their community. New events and promotions this weekend aim to make it easy and fun to buy gifts here in town.

How? For starters, the city's Holiday Shop Elk Grove program kicks off Friday. Visit any of more than 45 participating local shops, fill out a form and you'll be entered to win a raffle prize. There's a $2,000 grand prize, plus other cool schwag from local stores. Winners will be announced Dec. 20.

To help shoppers get from store to store, e-tran is offering free weekend rides on both fixed routes and Paratransit Nov. 25-27, and Dec. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24 and 31. Visit the e-tran website for details.

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Old Town merchants will be out in force for the annual on Saturday. Besides arts and crafts and food booths, the fair features a light parade, live music, an appearance by Santa and even real snow. For those of you who rarely venture east of Hwy. 99—you know who you are—it's a chance to experience Old Town's retro charm.

Saturday is also Small Business Saturday, when shoppers can take a pledge to support local mom-and-pop stores for the day. Started by American Express last year, the event has since been endorsed by the White House and many small businesses are offering deals to customers for the day. Ask your favorite store if they have any specials.

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Finally, Councilmember Gary Davis has launched a Donate Local campaign encouraging shoppers to share a little holiday cheer with Elk Grove Food Bank Services. Local stores have set up donation boxes for the food bank and will be accepting non-perishable food items through Dec. 19. Davis says the idea is to shift resources from large, national charities where the effects are less directly felt in Elk Grove, while supporting local shops at the same time.

"Our goal is to change our buying habits and unite us as a community," he said.

Happy shopping!


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