By Gari Voss
Get out those calendars and start scheduling the many wonderful events in the Allegan area! A great place to begin is Saturday, November 23, 2024, with arts and crafts, make-it-take its, and a bazaar. Then at 6pm, It’s a Wonderful Life begins at the Griswold Auditorium in Allegan to support Wings of Hope and Wings Home. Enjoy a fun filled evening watching a classic movie on a huge screen, being challenged with facts about the movie, and playing games.
During the day on Saturday, November 23rd, arts and crafters can be enjoyed by visiting the Fall Bazaar at the First Congregational Church. Or roll up your sleeves to create a wreath during the Wreath Making Workshop at the Lincoln Event Center. Or create a vintage Christmas pot in the Down Under at Tantrick with Eccentric Garden. You will then be ready to enjoy It’s a Wonderful Life at the Griswold in the evening.
On Wednesday, November 27, from 1-5:30pm, unleash your creativity with Open Art Studio Time at Cottage Arts & Eats (245 Hubbard St). For just $12.50, explore your artistic side by painting, drawing, crafting, or trying something new. This opportunity is perfect for beginners to seasoned artists who can come-as-you-are and work at their own pace. Get tickets at https://alleganchamber.org/event/open-studio-workshop-6/.
Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving. Then save your dollars on Black Friday to shop locally on Small Business Saturday. The local businesses in Allegan, Fennville, Hopkins, Otsego, Plainwell, Martin and the other communities in Allegan County rely on local customers and visitors.
To get in shape for the all-important Small Business Saturday, enter the Turkey Stroll, aka Allegan Turkey Trot 2024, on Thanksgiving Day. Gather in front of Riverfront Nutrition at 8am dressed in your best turkey garb. There is no entry fee, but donations of new toys will be accepted for the Community Action Christmas Give Back. Those who bring a gift will be entered into a raffle. Registration is requested at https://alleganchamber.org/event/allegan-turkey-trot-2024/.
A shop ‘til you drop Small Business Saturday in Allegan can begin with breakfast at Sweet Temptations on Marshall St., Mugshots on Water St., Village Inn on Lincoln Rd., or Minnie’s on Locust St.
After some sustenance, head out to find all of the special sales for special people. Technology can be found at A-Tech on Hubbard St. Wander closer to town and check out Riverfront Nutrition for your health and Beyond Bones for your pets. Don’t forget to zigzag down to Riverfront Plaza to check out Lambda Gunsmithing for sporting goods enthusiasts.
Pop over to Brady St. and checkout the Merry Marketplace which adds arts & crafts vendors to Eccentric Garden. Jump across the street to check out the beautiful yarns at the Bear & Fox Yarn Den. If you don’t find enough soft goods at the Bear & Fox, slide down Water St. to Old Mill Yarn & Baker Allegan Studios Fiber Arts where there are wonderful soft articles to delight friends or family members.
As lunch approaches, the choices in Downtown Allegan are wonderful. Tilt 118 and Sherwood Cove on Brady St. offer wonderful lunch menus. Tantrick Brewery on Hubbard St. or Pizza Hut, Minnie’s or Schaendorf Brewery on Locust St. expand the choices. Or cross Monroe St. to the Village Market Deli.
Once on Locust St., wander the aisles and basement at Aubrey’s Closet. Before or after lunch, create a special box of chocolates or purchase a gift at Something Special for You. The search goes on at Hathaway Cottage & Gifts then Zenlightenment. While at Zenlightenment, schedule a massage or buy a gift card.
Zag across the street and check out what is happening at Board & Brush Creative Studio and inquire about scheduling a creative session. Amble down the sidewalk to the Shoppes at the Penney’s Block and browse Allegan Floral & Gifts, Rebellious Rose, and Sharon’s Quilt’s & More.
Upon reaching Trowbridge St., slide into the Sassy Olive to learn about how all those headbands and soft good are created. Coming out of Sassy Olive, take a turn onto Trowbridge St. and amble into Just a Second. Customers get an eyeful that will take them back to childhood while offering vintage to contemporary items. Don’t give up yet. Tardy’s Underground Comics & Collectables is just half a block ahead that is hosting photos with The Grinch and The Krampus.
The heart of Downtown Allegan offers a variety of treasurers, but a short distance down M-89 toward Otsego, treasure hunters can stop at the Rock n Horse Antique Mall. Heading out of town toward Hamilton and Holland brings drivers to the Brave Art Studios & Gallery.
Don’t rule out the ACE or True Value Hardware Stores. Favorite family members and friends may be delighted with bird food and items or garden supplies or kitchen items or outdoor grilling items or every type of tool. Family Farm & Home can assist with not only articles for around the farm and home but clothing and footwear. For the home, explore Country House Furniture and Morgan Appliance. To replace a vehicle, stop at Betten-Baker Allegan Chevrolet or Pro Cycle Performance.
Ready for dinner? Head to the Grill House, Village Inn, Vitalie’s Pizza (eat in or out), Juan Lin Chinese Food, Schaendorf Brewing Co., Tilt 118, Pizza Hut, Tantrick Brewing Co, or Sherwood Cove and share the day’s purchases with others.
To relax at the end of the day, take in a movie at the Regent Theater or play some pinball at Tilt or try something new at Hidden Alley Gaming or Allegan Event.
FYI: The Regent Theatre is playing Love Actually for Flashback Fridays on November 29th at 9:30pm, and Moana 2 plays at all regular showtimes (7pm seven days a week and 2pm on Saturday & Sunday) beginning Wednesday, November 27.
The Old Jail Museum will be open 10am-4pm on Friday, November 29th and Saturday, November 30th. Just enjoy time away from shopping or purchase a book or piece of history to delight a history buff.
Small Business Saturday has an unusual history. In 2010, American Express launched a campaign to inspire consumers to shop within their own communities for the holidays. In 2011, leading officials including President Obama supported Small Business Saturday. Then in 2012, American Expressed amplified its efforts by offering small businesses free ads on the web.
The efforts brought an estimated $5.5 billion in sales for small businesses in 2013 that grew to $16.2 billion in 2015. This was assisted by small businesses offering online shopping along with their brick and mortar shops.
Shopping local keeps local businesses vibrant and thriving. Allegan may not have its Penney’s or McClellan’s Shoes or McGowan’s Men’s Store of McFadden’s Jewelry Store or even Shopko anymore, but it has a wonderful variety of shops where customers can touch items to ensure returns are not needed. In addition, crafters can find supplies or learn something new as cottage industry specialists emerge from their homes with marvelous items for sale.
Shopping locally also boosts the local economy, which assists the local government, schools, organizations, and extra-curricular activities. Local shoppers make an investment in their own communities while supporting their friends who work hard to promote their products.
Enjoy the last weekends of November, and prepare for the December events. Annual events like Festive Fridays will be accentuated by the Festival of Trees at Camp Kidwell, the Sing-along at the Griswold, and the Santa Shop (nothing over $2) at Good Shepherd.
