Prep For the Holiday Season

From now until January, you will be bombarded with the holiday spirit and everything that comes with it. The best way to deal with the holidays is cutting out the stressful parts that make the season unbearable at times.

One of the most stressful parts of the holidays is it seems like everything hits you all at once. This year, get ahead of your anxiety and make a list of things you need to get done prior to each holiday. Make a list of holiday traditions that you want to keep and ones that the family has outgrown. If no one wants to go to the high school Thanksgiving game, don't stay up packing snacks and pulling out blankets. Ask the family if there are any new traditions they want to incorporate, such as strolling around the town center and seeing the foliage in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery.

Establish a budget and don't worry if it is smaller than last year. Holiday gift giving can get out of control when you don't set a limit for your spending. A family gift swap will allow you to buy fewer gifts and instead focus your resources on one person and really think about what they like. Some of our holiday traditions can be expensive, but there are cheaper and free alternatives if you know where to look. A lot of neighborhoods have tons of holidays decorations and light shows. Make some hot chocolate and walk around town to find your favorite house.

Mark your calendars because Concord is gearing up for the holidays. The annual tree lighting will take place on November 18th at 6 o'clock, with families' entertainment and activities for kids which all leads up to the tree lighting and fireworks at 8:30. That's not all that is happening in Concord this month, the 88th annual Christmas Parade is on November 19. Grab some hot chocolate and camp out downtown to catch a glimpse of the many floats. As you recover from Thanksgiving, you can stop by Small Business Saturday to begin your holiday shopping.

Downtown Hudson has a holiday stroll on December 3rd that is fun for the whole family. Beading activities and face painting will keep the kids entertained while you enjoy a performance of the Nutcracker by the local ballet company. Hudson High School band and chorus students will also be performing. Top off the night with a horse drawn hayride around town.

Maynard is hosting its 5th annual Holiday Sip and Stroll. Downtown vendors will open their doors and offer treats and warm beverages. Most of the downtown will be blocked off from traffic to allow friends to take over the street. Stores will also be offering shopping and a sneak peek and holiday merchandise.

Start planning for cold weather now. November can be just as cold as February and when you can see your breath, you will be glad that you pulled your gloves out of the basement. While you are at it, you might want to locate your ice scraper, hopefully we won't need it, but it does come in handy when you do.

Concord has family friendly fun all throughout the holiday season. Take a family poll and decide what you want to do this season, maybe it will be making new traditions. Grab your holiday gear and start planning for your best season yet.