In Lake Placid, the Holiday Village Stroll will take place from Dec. 12 to 14. The event is a family and couples weekend set in the fairy-tale winter wonderland of Lake Placid. The event spans three days and includes events like a skating party, photos with Santa, a free movie showing, and a scavenger hunt. To learn more, visit tinyurl.com/nejd54s8.

The Holiday Stroll is part of the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism’s annual #ShopADK campaign, which promotes small businesses throughout the Adirondacks during the holiday season, supporting the region’s communities, business owners, and their employees. The campaign provides free promotional tools for businesses while encouraging everyone to shop at the region’s small businesses.

According to ROOST COO Mary Jane Lawrence, residents and visitors to the region are often intrigued by the unique gift ideas available at local businesses and feel a sense of pride by supporting the area’s small business owners.

“Retailers generally experience 40 percent of annual sales between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31,” she said. “Holiday shopping events provide a great opportunity to showcase local communities and support our smaller, privately-owned retailers that offer items that may not be available at larger stores or online retailers.”

“Holiday Stroll” events and other community-focused shopping and dining opportunities have been planned in several towns and villages throughout the region; many of which align with Small Business Saturday. The events combine an opportunity to visit these communities, while taking advantage of specials at many local businesses, allowing participants to check items off their gift list.

“The holiday season is an excellent time to explore our Adirondack communities,” Lawrence said. “Our local businesses go above and beyond to create memorable shopping and dining experiences, from festive shopping events to one-of-a-kind gift ideas. Supporting our local businesses and their efforts helps to foster vibrant communities.”

The Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism is the destination marketing and management organization for Essex and Hamilton counties, along with the communities of Lake Placid, Tupper Lake, and Saranac Lake, all located within the Adirondacks in New York state.