'Tis the season to shop, and your local merchants are ready for the holidays with great gift ideas and specials aimed to save you money. Shop the downtown communities of Ludington, Pentwater, Scottville, Hart, and Manistee--the stores put you in a festive mood with their colorful decorations and seasonal music. You'll find gifts for everyone on your list...unique items you can't get at the mall. And keeping dollars locally helps your neighbors and the community. It just feels nice to walk down friendly sidewalks and gaze in the store windows as snowflakes fall. What is better than that?

In addition to downtown shopping, there are numerous Arts & Crafts Shows during the holiday season that offer handmade goods. Here's a list of area shows and shopping events that occur during November and December:

Mistletoe Marketplace
The Barn Christmas Craft Show
Knights of Columbus Fine Arts & Crafts Show
Ludington Area Center for the Arts Holiday Crafts Show

Check back in the fall for the 2012 schedule.

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