Category Archives: Holiday Shopping Guide

Events to a T reprises its successful Holiday Festival of Lights along Canada Street in Lake George, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31.

Visitors and locals alike can see decorated storefronts on Canada Street and a huge light display in Shepard’s Park in Lake George. There is no cost for the event.

“The lights are best enjoyed when it’s dark out, after 5 p.m.,” said organizer Letizia Mastrantoni, owner of Events to a T. “Many businesses have pledged to remain open for extended hours this December and especially on weekends. Several area hotels are offering packages for overnight stays at family-friendly pricing. You can enjoy the lights by walking or driving by.”

The festival also features several standout events which are ticketed: the Royal Snow Sisters Holiday Princess Show, the Ha-Ha-Holiday Comedy Show and a Holiday Artisan Market. Advance tickets for those are required. Tickets can be purchased and information can be found at www.eventstoat.net.

Family-friendly live music, dance performances, entertainment can be found Saturdays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, in Shepard’s Park from noon to 4 p.m., free to attend.

The Royal Snow Sisters Holiday Princess Show is Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Holiday Inn, featuring holiday music favorites. There will be time for photos and autographs, crafts, singing and dancing. Showtimes are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person.

The Royal Snow Sisters Holiday Princess dinner theater and meet and greet on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. The $30 ticket price includes an entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage.

The Arts District of Glens Falls has completed the most visible piece of its Arts Trail to date, with seven electrical boxes along the trail featuring painted murals by artists.

A call went out in September and the projects were completed in October. This piece of the Arts Trail is made possible by the Touba Family Foundation.

“This is only the beginning,” said spokesperson Chad Rabinovitz, former artistic director of Adirondack Theatre Festival and co-owner of The Candy Space in Lake George. “We have major plans for public art, from large-scale murals on buildings to statement sculptures. You won’t be able to come to Glens Falls without knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is a place that loves the arts.”

Artists chosen for the electrical box project were Hannah Williams, Shelley Fairbanks, Rodney Allen Bentley, Olga Aleksandrova, Kevin Clark, Stephanie Vaus and Leah Hofgesang.

Also in the works is a Rain Art public art project—quotes from literature, chosen by the Teen Center at Crandall Public Library, spray painted onto the sidewalk outside the library with clear paint so the quotes are only visible when it rains.

Other components of the project to establish an Arts District, seven years in the making, include banners demarking the border of the Arts District, a website at www.artsdistrictgf.com, both of which are already completed. Coming soon, people can expect to see sidewalk stamps around the border of the Arts District, and bike racks that will soon be installed at the 10 arts destinations representing 14 arts organizations within walking distance from one another.

The 2020 holiday season is already a year like no other, which is why Aviation Mall is announcing new hours and initiatives to make the season safe and memorable for everyone, mall officials said.
Earlier this year, retail marketing experts accurately predicted that retailers would encourage consumers to start holiday shopping earlier by extending exclusive deals throughout the season in lieu of the traditional high-trafficked Thanksgiving/Black Friday kickoff. Aviation Mall’s Marketing Director Teresa Hanley said many of Aviation Mall’s tenants are following the trend.

Andrea Harwood Palmer
The gift-giving season has arrived and area businesses are gearing up.
James Joseph, owner of Sharp Presents in Queensbury, has seen an increased interest in shipped and hand-delivered gifts during the pandemic.
“It can be as non-touch process as people want it to be. You don’t have to come into the shop to order something. I text my clients photos to validate, change or approve the design. I send email invoices. The product can be hand-delivered or shipped. It’s always how I’ve done a lot of business, and it has certainly increased this year,” said Joseph.
The company specializes in curated gift boxes and crates.
Jeff Strief, owner of Rude Betty in Glens Falls and Happy Jack in Bolton Landing, said about product trends, “We’re seeing that candy, candles, small consumables and clever household items are doing well. Small gifts are continuing to do well. They’re a cheap and cheerful way to improve someone’s mood or disposition.”

Charles R. Wood Park on West Brook Road in Lake George will be the site of the second annual Adirondack Christkindlmarkt event Dec. 6-8.
Last year, the inaugural event welcomed more than 5,000 people from as far away as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Montreal, included 30 artisans and vendors and horse-drawn carriage rides, according to organizers.
The name translates to Christmas Market in English. These markets originated in Germany centuries ago. Other countries and cities have adopted the tradition throughout the years, organizers said.

Hometown Holidays is a popular, family-friendly event in Glens Falls, celebrating the arrival of the Holiday season.
The event this year is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7.
The event is free for collaborative members and non-members.
The Glens Falls Collaborative asked local businesses to join in the fun of Hometown Holidays. Friday evening will be a community event with a tree lighting in City Park. It will also feature the arrival of Santa Claus, and carols by sung by members of the Glens Falls Community Theater.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Local caterers have advice for those entertaining during the holidays: Leave the cooking to them.

From last minute appetizers, to brunch, to full-scale, sit-down dinners, local restaurants and cafes are up to the challenge of ensuring a stress-free

Deliciously Different owner Robin Getchell-Smith said they love helping people cope with the holidays. During this time of year they are busy with dinner parties, including intimate dinners hosted at family homes.

“Our clients find it is such a more intimate way to celebrate rather than making dinner reservations. They can come early and stay late surrounded by their closest friends,” said Getchell-Smith.

They also do many larger cocktail-style events this time of year.  Getchell-Smith said showing off a decorated home for the holidays and hosting a cocktail party is all part of the holiday fun.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

As the holiday shopping season swings into full gear, shoppers will find the Glens Falls and Lake George areas as good destinations to get their tasks accomplished.

From outlets to downtown Main Street, shoppers will find charm that shopping malls may not match..

At the gift shop MinkyMink, 203 Glen St. in Glens Falls, owner Maura Forcier said they will hold both a Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sale.

“We have a Ladies Night event on Thursday, Dec. 6,” he added. “All the downtown shops will be offering discounts, and the restaurants have specials as well. 

“For gifts, I have these fun Zodiac necklaces from Satya. These 18K gold plated necklaces feature real stones and come with a description on the back of the packaging that describes the signs personality. So, they are really thoughtful and unique,” he said.

The store also has specialized gifts like beer caddies and wine bags