Tis the season to shop local.

This weekend marks the biggest shopping period of the year with people, still stuffed from their Thanksgiving dinner, getting out of bed early Friday morning to hit the stores in search of Black Friday bargains. After that, comes Small Business Saturday, a nationwide push for shoppers to take their dollars and put it in the hands of small business owners.

There is an economic theory that when you buy something locally, that money recirculates seven times around the community.

That’s why events like Small Business Saturday are so important. Ironton aLive is making Saturday more than just buying presents for family and friends.

Santa Claus will arrive at 10 a.m. at the Ironton City Center, so that kids can tell the Jolly Old Elf what their Christmas wishes are and get a photo. They can then go to the Chatroom Cafe and decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus and have a cup of soup.

Ironton aLive is hiding an elf around town and giving hints to his location on its Facebook page. Everybody who finds the elf puts their name into a basket, and then a name will be drawn at Christmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Ironton City Center for the grand prize.

Some of the downtown stores will be having special events. Consigned Books will be celebrating its one-year anniversary with refreshments. Unger’s Shoe Store will have a balloon pop and Merle Norman will be serving cookies and drinks. There will be prizes at stores and a chance to win up to $300 in Ironton Bucks.

So when you’re out shopping this weekend, take time out to visit your downtown.

There are several stores that have opened up this year, with things you’ve never seen, as well as stores that have been open for decades and have expanded their product lines. These are your neighbors, so make it a merry Christmas by shopping local.