TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Friday kicks off Tallahassee's first ever Shop Local 850 Holiday Weekend.
Small businesses in the capital city are getting ready to draw in customers with special deals, all weekend.
With less than three weeks until Christmas, the perfect present may be waiting in a store near you. Toy Nation has a special offer for customers.
"When you spend $25 in our store, you'll get a free plush valued at $14.99 or less, plus we offer free gift wrapping and electronic invoices and all that," said Deborah Eyler, the owner of Toy Nation.
Owner Deborah Eyler says it's been a relatively quiet start to the holiday shopping season, but with this weekend's push to shop local, she says it's the city that gets the real gift.
"A shop owner that you come in and you purchase items from -- they will go and recirculate the money with ballet classes or softball, baseball, so everything stays local," said Elyer.
Over by Lake Ella, this is the first holiday season for Mingo Mania.
"Flamingos are the quintessential tacky Florida yard art, and the great thing about them is you can decorate them for any occasion," said Stacy Wallace, the owner of Mingo Mania.
Stacy Wallace designs each one, and this weekend, there's a special deal.
"With every Mingo that you purchase, you get a free 'Be Kind' wristband or 'Be Kind' button," said Wallace.
Mingo Mania just added soft souvenirs to expand their products to customers. They say every little bit helps to encourage shoppers to buy local.
"Local businesses are the people in the community," said Wallace. "They make up the community. They give us a sense of the flavor of the community."
Toy Nation and Mingo Mania are open on both Saturday and Sunday.
For a full list of deals and businesses that are participating, click here.
