With just more than three weeks until Christmas, Kristara Schnippert has some shopping to do.
"I don't like fighting over things and waiting in the long lines," she said. "It's just not worth it to me."
So Schnippert opted to browse the small businesses along 19th Street in The Heights.
The string of locally-owned shops opened Friday for an "anti-Black Friday" event and kickoff to Small Business Saturday. The event features shopping, food trucks and live music from 5 to 9pm.
"Keeps the money here, and we also try to step it up and keep unique items," said Ken Long, owner of Bliss on 19th. "Shoppers can see what's new that they won't find at a big box store."
The smaller stores still offer big bargains.
"At 1 o'clock till closing -- we close at 9 tonight -- everything is buy two, get two free. So, it's everything in the store, they can mix and match," said Sloan Gill at Langford Market.
The smaller stores also tout less hassle, so you can get in, grab the things you need and get going.
"Pretty easy, yeah. First parking lot we pulled into, parked, walked the rest of the way," shopper Jason Crowell said. "Weather's perfect, so good time to do it."
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