Whether you’re looking for last minute Holiday gift ideas or a photo of the kids with Santa, you can escape the chaos of the mall by shopping local in the homestretch between now and Christmas.
Santa has landed at the historic Novato Theater on Grant Avenue, every Saturday through December the 19th, between 11am and 3pm, accompanied by snow princesses the kids will recognize from their favorite holiday movies. Photos are a very budget-friendly $5 for one or $8 for two, and the Theater promises lots of fun holiday ambience, including music, snacks and the jolliest Santa around.
While you’re downtown, you can check out the Holiday Tree at Novato City Hall on Sherman Avenue, and capture a little holiday charm with your shopping, with the various merchants of Grant Avenue offering personalized service, smart gift ideas and a little Holiday spirit to suit the season.
If you’re shopping for kids, Five Little Monkeys is a must, with a selection of classic toys that have stood the test of time. Nearby, Celine’s Sweets is packed with enough classic candy to make any grown-up nostalgic for their own childhood favorites. Either store offers stocking stuffers galore.
Sports lovers are well-catered for on Grant Avenue, whether you’re shopping for soccer gear from All Season Soccer, getting something for snowboarding season from Old Town Sports, picking up a new bike jersey at Bicycle Brüstop or some baseball memorabilia for the Giants fan in your life from the Strike Zone.
For boutique clothing items and jewelry, consider visiting Accents, while you’ll find locally crafted jewelry alongside beautiful home accents in glass and other materials at the Sage Gallery. Your jewelry options along Grant Ave are truly abundant, including McDonald’s Jewelers and Carmen Q.
Needing the energy to get all your shopping done in time? Dr Insomniac’s offers a fine caffeine fix, and there are plenty of places along Grant where you can enjoy a festive meal as you make a day of it.
These are just a few ideas to get you started on your gift exploration, and of course there are plenty of places beyond Grant Avenue to shop local in Novato. Good luck in your holiday shopping, and we hope that you’ll be rewarded with both happy smiling faces from your gift recipients and a warm welcome from local merchants who are happy to play their part in making your Holiday adventures fun.
