With five weeks until Christmas, shoppers will start to get gifts bought and wrapped up.

Brent Millington, owner of The Antique Store in Ballston Spa, said in his 22 years of business, the holiday season is pretty good. Even before Thanksgiving, people will go in to buy extra tables and chairs for relatives.

Millington said he has everything from furniture, jewelry, restored clocks and even older holiday decorations.

“Usually it is one of a kind stuff and they make unique gifts for the holiday season,” Millington said.

Being on Milton Avenue, the main road in the village, gives Millington a lot of exposure. He has people come in every year to get something special for a family member.

He said many of the stores in the village stay open later on Friday nights to accommodate shoppers and other activities for families bring people to the village to shop.

The Victorian Holiday Weekend kicks off the shopping and holiday season in the village.

The Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association hold the weekend festivities on Dec. 7 to Dec. 10. Events begin with the Victorian Parade on Friday and the Festival of Trees at St. Mary’s school gym goes all weekend. The third annual Holiday House Tour is Saturday, Dec. 8.

The Festival of Trees co-sponsored b the Garden Club and BSBPA.

Tina Mangino-Coffey said the festival will display decorated trees, wreaths, garland, center pieces and other holiday gifts for sale. The $2 admission to the Festival of Trees goes towards the church youth group and other event.

There will be a bake sale put on by the youth group too.

Mangino-Coffey said there are a lot of events going on and stores are having special events for the monthly first Friday.

“It is a nice quant, walking village,” Mangino-Coffey said. “It’s a great weekend for everybody.”

Jim Whittredge said people gather for the Victorian Parade at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 and go to the park on Front Street for the tree lighting. He said some retired grey hounds dressed like reindeer will lead a fire truck with Santa Claus aboard.

He said normally between 30 and 40 different organizations take part in the parade.

Whittredge said many of the events are geared towards families with craft fairs at churches and Christmas carolers throughout the village.

“It’s a fun event for us to do and a great time for the family,” he said.

Alison Thomas-Oravsky, the chair of the house tour, said the self-guided tour brings residents to eight homes from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased prior to the weekend or the day of at the Medbury Inn and Spa until 2:30 p.m.

“There are different activities around town all weekend,” Thomas-Oravsky said. “It really kicks off the holiday season.”

Thomas-Oravsky describes the weekend as a unique, small town Christmas atmosphere, and having the house tour adds to that feel.

“It is a great time and there is something for everyone in the family,” Thomas-Oravsky said.

Saratoga Springs

Black Friday begins the holiday shopping season, which is five weeks long.

Many businesses start their extended hours to accommodate shoppers.

Lisa Schroeder, owner of The Clothes Horse, has been in business for 30 years and done her early bird sale for at least 20 years.

“Our customers wait for it every year,” Schroeder said. “It’s for our regular customers that shop here all year long.”

Marianne Barker, owner of Impressions of Saratoga, said three years ago she piggy-backed with Schroeder at The Clothes Horse for her Black Friday early bird sale. The Shoppe joined this year to tap the early shoppers.

She said the sale starts at 6 a.m., where for one hour customers get 50 percent off their purchases.

“When someone comes in they receive a slip,” Barker said.

The slip states when the customer came in and what percent they receive.

“Last year the line was straight to the back of the store for two hours,” Barker said.

Schroeder agrees and said each year it continues to amaze her how mobbed the store is.

“Women will wait in their cars drinking coffee, while they wait for the doors to open,” she said.

She said a lot of people are in town for Thanksgiving weekend and make it a tradition to spend some time downtown.

“Women plan it out,” Schroeder said. “They’ll have lunch and spend the whole day downtown.”

Barker said the Beverwyck Pony Club will be wrapping gifts as a fundraiser in her store this year.

“It’s a fun, but exhausting day,” Barker said. “It’s a good start for holiday shopping.”

Cathy Burniche, owner of Speck’s Boutique, said retailers look forward to the holiday shopping season just as much as the shoppers.

“I’m ready for it and looking forward to it since track season,” she said.

Burniche said she’ll have extended hours throughout the season and have an Ed Levin jewelry trunk show during the Victorian Streetwalk. She said a representative will be creating sterling silver pieces at the store during the show.

She said women can make out a wish list for their husband.

“It works out well,” she said. “They don’t have to worry about guessing on a gift.”