Eat.Shop.Play

A SEASON-LONG OPPORTUNITY TO

Community Wide Christmas Events

How Shopping Local Benefits the Community

The ONLY Santa Museum in the South

Your Go to for H iday Gi s Cookware/Bakeware | Kitchen gadgets/Accessories Spices and Oils | Bridal Registries | Cooking classes for adults and kids

FREE Gift Wrapping with Purchase!

Open Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM Saturday 10AM - 4PM Sunday CLOSED Linda Pruitt, Owner

721 E. Austin St. Giddings, TX 78942 | Shop@GourmetDivas.net (979) 540-DIVA (3482)

Thursday, December 7th • 5 to 8 pm Wassail Tasting Contest, Food, Performances, Games, Crafts, and a Parade

The following advertisers are participating in this year’s EAT. SHOP. PLAY. and your dollars can make you eligible for gift cards that can be redeemed at these businesses at a later date.

Celebrating Six Successful Years ........................................................8 Celebrating German Christmas Traditions.................................14 Round Top Family Library......................................................................16 Support Your Local Businesses..........................................................18 Kick off the Holiday Season with Wassail .....................................19 How Shopping Local Benefits the Community ........................20 Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Tips.................................................22 Santa Museum in Cloumbus................................................................24 5 Great Gifts for Tweens & Teens ........................................................26 Exclusive Coupons.......................................................................................28 Santa Museum...........................................................32 D&D Ace Hardware................................................21 Gourmet Divas...........................................................2 Gypsy Sun & Boutique...........................................13 Kat’s Antiques.............................................................29 Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites ...........................................15 Schmeckenfest ..........................................................3 Latte on the Square ..................................................29 Mac’s Daqs...................................................................30 Milton’s Furniture......................................................21 Murphy’s Steakhoue................................................27 Orsak’s Café................................................................21 Round Top Library.....................................................7 & 31 Weikels...........................................................................30 Weise Farms................................................................27 Wildflowers and Lace ...............................................27

A SEAS ON-L ONG OPPO RTUN

Community Wide Christmas Event s

How Shopping Local Benefits the Community

ITY TO

The ONLY Santa Museum in the South

On the Cover

Gypsy Sun & Boutique | Photo by Lindsey Fojtik

Staff and Contributors PUBLISHER

OFFICE STAFF

EDITOR

ACCOUNTING

Regina B. Keilers Jeff Wick

DIGITAL EDITOR Andy Behlen

ADVERTISING

Becky Weise Tammy Browning

PRODUCTION

LouAnn Adcox

Theresia Karstedt Nonnie Barton

CIRCULATION

George Kana Jesse Montez Nicol Krenek LeighAnn Bedient Bobby Bedient

John Castaneda - Newspaper Lindsey Fojtik - Special Sections

127 S. Washington St. | P.O. Box 400 | La Grange, Texas 78945 Ph: 979.968.3155 | Fx: 979.968.6767 Email: editor@fayettecountyrecord.com www.FayetteCountyRecord.com The Fayette County Record is published every Tuesday and Friday, except the publication immediately following Christmas by Fayette County Record, Inc. serving Fayette County since 1922. The Fayette County Record is locally owned and operated by the Barton family since 1976.

(USPS 188-440)

4 | Eat. Shop. Play. 2023

PARTICIPANT support local businesses

Eat. Shop. Play.

There are many places to eat, many places to shop and many places to create lasting memories with your family and friends in Fayette and surrounding counties. The Fayette County Record has teamed up with our advertisers to offer you a way to increase your spending power all while shopping at these local advertisers.

Participation is easy.

Whenever you make a purchase at any of the advertisers in this publication, keep the receipts and bring them into The Fayette County Record for verification.

For every $20 spent, you receive a punch in the card.

(See sample on this page.)

For every $100 spent, you will receive an entry in the Eat. Shop. Play. and Win! contest.

Lost or stolen cards will not be replaced. Qualifying purchases totaling $20 per punch can only be verified and validated at The Fayette County Record, located at 127 S. Washington St., La Grange, open MondayFriday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Receipts must be original and must be punched along with the punchcard. The receipt must show the business name and must be dated from November 17 - December 20, 2023. Limit 25 completed You always WIN when you shop with punch cards ($2,500) per the Fayette County Record Advertisers, receipt may be received but now you can win even more!

Win up to a $300 Gift Certificate to during the contest period. any advertiser in the Fayette County Eat. Shop. Play. Holiday Shopping Guide.

The more you spend, the more chances you have to win.

To enter, each card must include five punches and should then be dropped off at The Fayette County Record office or the La Grange Main Street & Visitors Bureau office as an entry to win one of three gift certificates for $300, $200, and $100 that can then be spent at any of the advertising businesses in the Eat. Shop. Play. and Win! magazine.

Three lucky shoppers will have extra dollars to spend on gifts (or themselves) this Christmas season as The Fayette County Record presents Eat. Shop. Play. and Win!

Advertisers receiving these gift certificates may then redeem these certificates toward advertising dollars at The Fayette County Record.

This promotion is a Christmas shopping contest.

The contest will run during the Christmas shopping season beginning Friday, November 17, 2023 and ending Monday, December 20, 2023. Three names will be drawn on Tuesday, December 21, 2023 for a $300, $200, and $100 gift certificate to any of the participating merchants.

Eat. Shop. Play. and Win! is a contest to promote local businesses and encourage shopping with advertisers in The Fayette County Record.

The Fayette County Record contest rules apply.

Visit or call the Record office for details.

Employees of The Fayette County Record are not eligible to win.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 5

November 24 & 25

Ledbetter Lane of Lights

(also on Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23)

November 25 Shop Small Saturday November 27 Schulenburg Chamber Christmas Tree Decorating Contest November 28 Schulenburg Chamber Opening Day for the Merry Art’s Contest November 29 Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Christmas Village Lighting & Santa at Gazebo December 1 Flatonia Chamber of Commerce Wonderful Winter Wine Walk Schulenburg Chamber Letters to Santa Opening Day

December 2 Merry Market Vendors’ Cookie & Candy Carnival wit Santa & Photos - Flatonia Schulenburg Chamber Sesquicentennial & Santa’s Party in the Park Round Top’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade – Round Top Town Square

Christmas Open House – Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center Fayetteville Annual Homes Tour Country Christmas and Lighted Parade – Fayetteville Nutcracker Ballet at Festival Hill – Round Top

December 9

Santa at the MKT Depot

Enjoy a ride on the Katy Flyer all day long. Visit Santa at 10 a.m. and give him your wish list!

December 7 Schmeckenfest on the Square – La Grange December 8-9, 15-17, & 19-23 Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill Historic Sites Trail of Lights La Grange

December 16

Round Top Family Library Christmas Extravaganza

Pictures with Santa, Christmas Treats, Game Booths, and Music

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December 9 Christmas at Winedale Round Top

December 15 Christmas Tree Decorating Contest Business and Residential – Schulenburg

See chamber websites for updates and other events.

Gypsy Sun & Boutique

Celebrating

SIX SUCCESSFUL YEARS Hot brands and a sun-kissed glow keep customers coming back for more

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When Gypsy Sun & Boutique manager Sarah Fourmy was offered the chance to purchase the store from the former owner, she didn’t think twice. The primary inspiration was to uphold the same customer service and hometown feel and maintain the quality of inventory that keeps their loyal customers coming back. That’s just one of the many reasons the full-service tanning salon and women’s boutique was voted the best tanning salon and tanning services for the last four years in the Best of Fayette County Readers’ Choice Awards.

“I’ve really gotten to know my customers and their styles since I came here in 2021,” stated Fourmy. “They trust us. We could have lost that camaraderie if we had sold it to someone else. I’ve seen that happen to other businesses. We want them to feel like they can ask us what we think about their selections and get an honest answer.”

Gypsy Sun & Boutique offers casual graphic tees, special occasion dresses, jewelry, clothing, purses, shoes, hats and more. Customers can also acquire their perfect sun-kissed glow. The tanning beds featured at the six-yearold boutique are Level 3 and Level 4 beds, a higher level than what typical salons offer and Fourmy stays up to date on the latest tanning technology.

Tanning beds are by walk-in only.

The customized airbrushed spray tan solutions are by appointment. “We still have our classic tanning packages, but a lot of our customers are jazzed about the new three-month and sixmonth unlimited tanning services and our collection of new tanning lotions.

The spray tans are customized to each customer. The whole process only takes about 15 minutes from the time they arrive to the time they leave.”

Expect some hot brands like Shu Shop, an edgy take on casual footwear, and Makeup Junkie. “We actually have one

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 9

Gypsy Sun & Boutique

of the largest collections of Makeup Junkie Bags in Fayette County and the surrounding areas. Many of our bags are exclusive, a limited edition, or one-of-akind! They’re handmade in Conroe and have a lifetime warranty.” The patented, multi-purpose, leak resistant cosmetic and makeup bags featured on Shark Tank come in multiple sizes and can carry everything from makeup to credit cards or pencil bags to clothes for a night or weekend away. They’re lined in vinyl and are a cinch to clean when flipped inside out.

Clothing sizes run from extra small to 2X. More plus size offerings are coming in.

“We can dress all women from head to toe whether it’s for a wedding, the fair, a family gathering or a dressy occasion.

To top it off, they can go next door to get their nails done after spending the day with us,” stated Fourmy. And in a partnership with Southern Ways owner Kori White, Gypsy Sun Signature Scent just launched. The custom fragrance is offered in room sprays, candles and refresher oils.

Everyone’s invited for their upcoming Pink Friday event, marking their sixth anniversary on Friday, Nov 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pink Friday is the Black Friday for boutiques. The first 20 customers that arrive receive a special gift. Look for giveaways, refreshments and a lot more.

Vendors joining in the Nov 17 Pink Friday Anniversary Celebration include: Good as Gold Jewelry Permanent Jewelry Offering Permanent Jewelry Owner: Taylor Bigon

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Brenna Davis Bridal Stylist Offering Hair Tinsel Owner: Brenna Davis

Bae’s Beauty Lounge Offering No Needle Lip Filler Owner: Baillie Powell

Southern Ways LLC Offering Freeze Dried Candy Sampling & Cotton Candy Drinks Owner: Kori White

Free time isn’t a part of the equation for the Gypsy Sun owner. During the school year, Fourmy serves as the Color & Winter Guard Director for the La Grange High School band. “My four dedicated part-time employees make my life easier. Halee, Destinee and Lorena have been here for over a year. They know our customers by name. Our newest employee Lily is working hard to learn them and provide great customer service as well.”

Fourmy is a retail pro. “At 16, I started out at Bealls as a regular retail associate.

After a little over a year, I was promoted to manager for Clinique Laboratories inside of Bealls. Clinique then moved me to Dillard’s to help grow business there. After two years, I was promoted to Cosmetic Area Sales Manager. My entire career at Bealls and Dillard’s, I handled sales and social media for my respective departments. I got tired of driving from La Grange to Bee Cave every day and that’s when I went to work for Gypsy Sun. My biggest supporter is my fiancé, Shane Earls, a U.S. Army veteran and a salesman at Alpha One Ford. I would not be able to do all of this without his love and support for me and my dreams.” The couple resides in Flatonia and hopes to one day grow their family in Fayette County.

“We update our website with new items, ship and offer local pickup. On our VIP Facebook page, new promotions and specials are announced before items go in the store. Instagram stays updated to highlight all that’s happening here.”

Gypsy Sun has just the right mix of traditional goods and new surprises to keep everyone happy. New items and salon services are in the works. “Our goal is to expand over the next few years and exceed the expectations of all our customers.”

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 11

©The Fayette County Record

www.gypsysunboutique.com

Tanning Salon | Boutique | Spray Tans | & More

We are a small town boutique and tanning salon, located in La Grange, TX! Here at Gypsy Sun we are dedicated to helping you feel and look your best! We have a passion for striving for greatness, including providing you with great customer care!

1417 W Hwy 71 La Grange, Suite A | 979.968.3665

Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites

Celebrating German Christmas Traditions at TRAIL OF LIGHTS 2023

Fröhe Weihnachten! From decorations to food and music, the earliest German settlers to Texas brought their holiday customs with them. These traditions come to life each December during Trail of Lights at Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill. The event features five Festival Nights with live music, refreshments, family activities, visits with Santa, and more. Then, during the week of Christmas, guests can enjoy five “Encore” Nights by simply walking the trail to enjoy the lights with their family and friends.

During the Festival nights this year, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be dressed in their best Victorian-style outfits to share their merriment at the Kreische House. In the kitchen, guests will enjoy sampling Kinderpunsch (German Christmas Punch) heated on the old wood stove. Also new this year will be a lighted display featuring giant-sized Victorian Christmas cards showing the designs of Lousi Prang, an immigrant

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from Germany who is often called the “father of the American Christmas card.”

The Brewery ruins will be lit with luminaries providing a warm glow along the historic walls, and the always popular Dog Park is a delight for children and four-legged guests because wellbehaved dogs on leashes are welcome to join their human family members as they stroll through the Trail of Lights.

“We are grateful for our Platinum level sponsor, Fayette Memorial Funeral Home for providing the generous support to make these displays possible” shares Friends Board President, Diana Wilson.

Holiday revelers will enjoy live music, cookies, popcorn, and hot chocolate at the festival tent. At the Visitor Center, children can make a Victorian ornament while adults may enjoy shopping the Museum Store as it will be stocked with German heritage gifts including authentic German holiday decorations.

Stringing lights and creating light

Our Background Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites are two of the 34 historic sites operated by the Texas Historical Commission. Kreische Brewery tells the real story of master stonemason and German immigrant, Heinrich Kreische and his family, who built a large home and one of the first commercial breweries in Texas. Monument Hill tells the story of the men who died during the Dawson Massacre of September 1842 and the ill-fated Mier expedition of November 1842, also known as the “black bean” incident.

The sites also include recreational opportunities for hiking and picnicking.

For more information visit www.visitkreischebrewery.com.

displays throughout the grounds of the historic sites takes over a month of preparation and work. “The Rotary Club of La Grange and the La Grange Noon Lions Club are invaluable partners in setting up and taking down Trail of Lights decorations,” says assistant site manager, Gavin Miculka. The Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill members and board also donate their time generously to making the grounds a magical place during December.

Trail of Lights will span ten nights this holiday season: December 8th-9th, and 15th -17th are the Festival Nights featuring activities, entertainment, refreshments, visits with Santa, and more. December 19-23rd are the “Encore” nights where guests can stroll among the lights, enjoying one another’s company. Tickets and additional details on Trail of Lights 2023 can be found at www.friendsofkbmh.org.

La Grange, TX

Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill’s

Festival Nights: Dec. 8, 9, 15, 16, & 17 Encore Nights: Dec. 19 - 23

5:30 to 8:00 pm

Visit friendsofkbmh.org for more details and ticket information S

NEIGHBOR

FAMILY

FRIENDS

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 15

Round Top Family Library

Round Top Family Library SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Our region is fortunate to have Round Top Family Library as a resource for the community. Originally conceived as a children’s library, the library has grown to serve the community with not only traditional library services, but also free programs for patrons of all ages. Craig Moreau, the RTFL’s Executive Director, likes to say “we are a place where we engage the imagination from cradle to grave.”

RTFL offers a variety of children’s programs, including a weekly Children’s Storytime; After School Programs for Arts (in which they partner with Arts for Rural Texas), Junior Master Gardeners, Chess, Jazz Dance, and

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Taekwondo; Homeschool Networking events; and many other seasonal age-appropriate programs.

For adults, the library offers all sorts of great activities including presentations on topics like Medicare, PHI Medical Air Services, iPhone Classes, Personal Safety, and Computer Safety tips; classes for the artistic types which include Painting, Barn Quilt Painting, Mosaic Glass Making, and Photography; Cooking and Wine Making Classes; Local Author Book Fairs; Family Game Day; Senior Game Day; and Yoga Classes twice a week, to name a few.

In addition to these free programs, the

library welcomes everyone to enjoy the beautiful historic main library building that houses the library collection and offers a number of great spots to work away from home. RTFL offers free wifi and the use of the computers, copier and scanner. There is also a beautiful play scape with outdoor picnic tables for little learners to enjoy outdoor play time.

The library offers so many things to do, one simply cannot enjoy it all in one day.

An exciting event RTFL is hosting for the holidays is the Christmas Extravaganza.

Mark your calendars for a festive day at the beautiful library on Saturday, December 16th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

RTFL’s Christmas Extravaganza is free and open to the public. The library is providing pictures with Santa, Christmas treats, game booths, and lots of holiday music. This event is sure to get you and your little ones in the holiday spirit!

We learned that RTFL takes the safety and well-being of their patrons very seriously, especially those youngest patrons. Every volunteer undergoes a background check to ensure your family is in the safest environment possible when attending events at the library. “We love all our patrons, but our little ones are extra special to us and we give extra attention to their safety,” said Moreau.

Chili Cook-Off is right around the corner and is the library’s highest attended annual event. This year, the 19th Annual Chili Cook-Off is on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at the Round Top Rifle Hall. The doors open at 12:00 pm and you will have all the chili to sample that you can imagine. The price for admission is $10 and children under 12 get in free. It is a new location for the Chili Cook-Off this year, but it will be the same familyfocused event everyone has grown to love! Everyone is welcome and you are encouraged to bring your family and friends for this wholesome day of chili

competition, delicious eating, unique live auction and great music by the Black Cat Choir — and it all supports the library. Many don’t realize that the library exists solely because of the generosity of donors. We learned that almost all the library’s operating expenses are funded from donations, fundraisers and private grants. “This cook-off is our second largest fundraiser of the year, with all the proceeds going towards keeping the lights on and aiding us in providing the free programs we offer, “ said event chair Emily Siemsglusz.

Consider being an event sponsor, entering your cooking team for the tasty competition, and also buying a ticket to attend — everything you do helps the library continue to do what they do.

We encourage you to follow RTFL on both Facebook and Instagram. The library utilizes their social media platforms to provide the most up-to-date offerings of programs. Recently RTFL started a number of series that spotlight members of the community. Check them out and enjoy the series on “What Are You Reading?”, “Front Porch Stories”, “Did You Know?”, “Meet A Member of the RTFL Team” and so much more. “We are in the business of storytelling, whether it be in the books we provide on the shelves or the stories we are so fortunate to share about members of the community, and we encourage you to be a part of the stories taking place every day at RTFL,” shared Kathy Young, Board Member.

Round Top Family Library has something for everyone. For more information about the library, their free programs, the Christmas Extravaganza, and the 19th Annual Chili Cook-Off, head to the RTFL website at www.ilovetoread. org. Applications for Chili Cook-Off teams will be available December 1st and details about sponsorships along with other opportunities to donate are on the website.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 17

La Grange Main Street

Support Your Local Businesses this

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY The end of the year has arrived! As we begin our holiday preparations, many a Christmas gift wish list will be made. While you can certainly find those items online or at the bigger department stores, La Grange Main Street would like to encourage you to support your community and its numerous local businesses on Small Business Saturday, November 25th.

A counterpart to other shopping Holidays such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for us to patronize our locally-owned small businesses as we head into the holiday season.

When you support local businesses, you’re not just traveling less to buy something, you’re helping to stimulate the local economy, you’re helping to

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build a better sense of community, and you’re supporting your neighbors.

This year, the Historic Casino Hall will host a breakfast that morning at 9:30 am where you’ll receive a coupon book for our participating businesses before you embark on your day of shopping.

Make sure that you keep your receipts at each location you stop by because if you bring them back to the Casino Hall before 4 PM that day, each receipt will give you a ticket to enter one of several raffles we will be hosting!

For more information, please contact the Office of Community Development at (979) 968-3017 or email cparks@ cityoflg.com. We look forward to shopping small with you!

KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON

with Wassail

Join over 30 teams vying to make the tastiest wassail and win the coveted title of “Schmeckenmeister” at the 15th Annual Schmeckenfest on Thursday, December 7th from 5 pm to 8 pm. The festive community kickoff to the Christmas season will start with a parade around the Square led by the La Grange High School Mighty Leopard Band followed by the lighting of the County Christmas tree on the Courthouse lawn.

Again this year, there will be a snowball drop from the second-floor balcony on the east side of the Courthouse.

Scramble to pick up a snowball (pingpong ball) and see if you are a winner of one of the prizes including items from local merchants or a commemorative Schmeckenfest stein. Even the blank “snowballs” will receive a small prize.

This Christmas festival also includes music, delicious food sold by local nonprofit organizations around the Square, and a visit from Santa at the gazebo. There are also a number of children’s activities on the Courthouse lawn including a Rock Wall, the popular Schmecken-ball pit, S’mores, and many more! And don’t forget after-hours shopping at the downtown stores.

Don’t miss this wonderful hometown event that brings the whole community together. For more information, please contact the City of La Grange Office of Community Development and Tourism at 979-968-3017 or visit www.visitlagrangetx.com.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 19

How communities benefit when consumers SHOP LOCAL Ideas about shopping are never set in stone, and the pandemic illustrated just how quickly consumer trends and opinions can change.

Many individuals are now reevaluating how they spend their hard-earned money, particularly since inflation has affected just how far a dollar can be stretched. When consumers think about which stores to patronize, locally owned businesses may be the smartest option for a number of reasons — not the least of which is the way such enterprises benefit the communities they call home.

More money kept in the community Shopping locally means that more money will stay in the community.

According to recent research from Civic Economics, local eateries return nearly 79 percent of revenue to the community, compared to just over 30 percent for chain restaurants.

Overall, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $73 remains in the community, verus roughly $43 when shopping at a non-locally owned business.

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Get a personal touch Local business owners typically are inclined to go the extra mile for their customers and are personally invested in the services and products they are selling.

As a result, shopping locally tends to be a personalized experience.

Furthermore, a local business owner may be more amenable to ordering products for specific clientele. Such personalized service is typically not accessible when shopping big box stores or other shops where owners are off-site.

Lines are short Waiting in long lines for checkout or to pick up merchandise ordered online can drain consumers’ energy and contribute to stress.

Local businesses tend to have short lines and small crowds, which can lead to a more pleasant shopping experience.

Generates tax revenue Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, according to Rubicon, a digital marketplace for waste and recycling businesses. Taxes paid by local small businesses

go to support schools, parks, roads, and other programs that benefit the community as well.

Support nonprofits Local businesses often support good work in the community, such as nonprofit groups. These can include schools and sports teams, among other groups. According to Dr. Sue Lynn Sasser, professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma, studies indicate nonprofits “receive 250 percent more support from small businesses than larger ones.”

Support other local businesses Local business support other local businesses by buying and selling among each other. A local, independently owned restaurant may source its ingredients from local farms, which means visitors to such eateries are supporting multiple local businesses each time they dine out.

Small businesses are a boon to the economy, particularly local economies. These enterprises help their communities in a multitude of ways.

be merry EAT. DRINK. &

©2019 The Fayette County Record

ORSAKS CAFE 979.378.2719 Orsaks Family: 1965-2002 Terri McPherson: 2002-2019

121 W FAYETTE ST. FAYETTEVILLE, TX 78940

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 21

LAST-MINUTE

holiday shopping tips 22 | Eat. Shop. Play. 2023

Though devotees of early holiday shopping do not hesitate to point out how convenient it can be to get all their gifts long before the arrival of Chanukah and Christmas, scores of shoppers still wait until the last minute to begin checking names off their lists. It might be beneficial to shop early, but it’s easy to procrastinate.

Last-minute holiday shopping might not be as enjoyable a custom as family dinners or office parties, but scrambling to find the right gift in the waning days of the holiday season is a familiar situation for millions of shoppers. Shoppers who find themselves with some lastminute shopping on their to-do list can utilize these tips to make the frantic search for the right gift go smoothly.

Work with store personnel.

If a shopping list is lengthy but the time before the holiday arrives is dwindling, speak directly with store personnel, who may offer suggestions but can also help shoppers find what they need.

In-person shoppers can speak with a store clerk immediately upon entering a store, while online shoppers can utilize chat functions on retailers’ websites for help finding something that’s in stock and deliverable before the big day.

Expect competition.

Though online shopping would seemingly make last-minute shoppers relics of a bygone era, that was not really the case in 2022. A survey of more than 1,000 shoppers conducted by the retail industry publisher Best Black Friday found that just about 16 percent of consumers estimated they would finish their shopping during the week of Christmas. Last-minute shoppers who want to avoid crowds should consider shopping during off-peak hours, such as on weekday mornings and afternoons when most people are working.

Shop local.

Last-minute shoppers may be flocking to malls and busy downtown

shopping districts as they hurry to get gifts for friends and family members with different interests. Shopping at small, local businesses can help last-minute shoppers avoid such crowds. And with less on their shelves and smaller storage rooms, small business owners and their staff also tend to know their inventories inside and out. That can ensure a shopping trip is not spent wandering numerous aisles in search of the right gift.

Bag it, don’t wrap it.

Shoppers who wait until the very last minute likely won’t have time to wrap all the gifts they pick up for loved ones. Gift bags conceal gifts just as well as wrapping paper, but it takes a fraction of the time to place a gift in a bag as it does to wrap it in paper.

Quality gifts bags also are reusable, which can appeal to anyone looking to create less waste this holiday season.

Don’t forget food.

If it’s truly impossible to find something late in the season and a gift card feels too impersonal, give the gift of food.

Adult recipients also can be gifted a bottle of wine or another spirit that can be enjoyed during a holiday meal.

Shoppers skilled in the kitchen can whip up a homemade treat, while those without such talents can give a storebought delicacy or even a subscription to a monthly food club or service.

Last-minute shopping may look different than it used to, but scores of shoppers still wait to buy gifts for their loved ones. A handful of strategies can simplify last-minute shopping.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 23

Columbus Chamber of Commerce

Santa Museum in Columbus ONLY ONE IN THE SOUTH

With more than 5,000 Santas decking its halls, the Santa Claus Museum is a Christmas lover’s dream come true. Opening in 1990, the building was donated by the late Mrs. Laura Ann Rau, founding member of the Columbus Historical Preservation Trust, Inc. The museum recently underwent an expansion to accommodate all five of the collections donated by local residents.

Mary Elizabeth Youens Hopkins began collecting Santas in the early 1970s and it was her extensive collection that launched the Santa Museum. An almost life-sized Santa Claus, formerly displayed in a department store in Garwood in the 1950s is one of the

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most popular Santas in her collection.

In 2019, the Luman Collection and the Hubenak Collection were added to the museum prompting an expansion of the showrooms. The Luman Collection consists of a large number of Lladro ceramic Santas as well as an impressive number of Santas in sleighs. The Hubenaks began collecting Santas in the late 1990s and over the years amassed a collection of more than 400 Santa figurines, dolls, artwork, and other collectibles.

The Potter Collection and the Redus Collection were both added in 2023.

Kay Potter’s love for Santas all started in 1975 because of the uplifting color of

red. The collection also consists of hand-painted Santa faces on gourds, rocks, and fabric all done

by Kay. The Redus collection is very eclectic and gives a glimpse into the lives of Jean’s many family members and friends who have gifted her a plethora of unique Santas over the years.

This one-of-a-kind museum at 604 Washington Street in downtown Columbus is open every Friday, January through November from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5.00 per person and is free to children under the age of five. During the month of December, the museum is open on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at no cost to visitors. To visit any other time of the year, contact the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to schedule an appointment.

For more information visit santamuseum.org or call them at 979-732-5135. Follow them on Facebook at Santa Museum Texas.

Columbus is a quick drive from Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, and offers a variety of unique shopping destinations filled with clothing, home décor, antiques, and more.

And bring your appetite. Whether pining for a sweet treat or something a bit heartier, Columbus restaurants and specialty food shops will satisfy any craving you may have.

Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide | 25

GREAT GIFTS FOR TWEENS AND TEENS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON While most parents and other relatives may never seem “cool” in the eyes of their teens, they can gift the tweens and teens they love with presents that will earn them a few extra brownie points.

The following are five gift ideas that are tailor-made for tweens and teens.

1. LED strip lights Both girls and boys may enjoy customizing their rooms as they see fit. Teens can utilize LED strip lights to create a unique ambiance that reflects their style. These often selfsticking ribbons of lights adhere right to walls. They come in a variety of lengths so they can be used to frame the perimeter of the room, if desired.

Complete with multicolored options and a remote control, teens can set their room colors as their mood dictates.

2. Gift cards Teens try to keep up with the latest styles. A gift card or clothing gift from one of their favorite retailers can help them build their ensembles that much quicker. Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Forever 21, Zumiez, American Eagle, and Tilly’s are just some of the stores popular among today’s tweens and teens.

3. Wireless earbuds or headphones Wireless headphones are used on a daily basis by tweens and teens. They rely on

26 | Eat. Shop. Play. 2023

them for listening to music, watching movies on their devices and even during remote learning sessions. There are many brands to choose from, and Beats by Dre and Apple AirPods are among the most popular.

4. Sneakers and shoes Sneakers have long been popular gifts for teenagers, but they tend to be costly, especially for trending styles and brands. Vans Slip-On™ Core Classics, Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High Top Sneakers, Reebok Club C 85 Vintage, Nike Air Force One, and Adidas Sobakov are popular among today’s tweens and teens. In addition, thanks to the resurgence of 1990s style, Dr. Martens boots are once again in demand.

5. Video game consoles Each gamer has his or her preferred platform for gaming. From the Nintendo Switch to the Xbox Series X to the Sony PlayStation 5, these systems are in high demand.

Due to that demand, these products may be harder to find the closer you get to Christmas Day. Grab them while you can and soak in the smile on your favorite tween’s or teen’s face.

Teens and tweens are notoriously challenging to shop for. However, with some knowledge, loved ones can find gifts tweens and teens are more likely to use and enjoy.

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