This holiday season, the Independent-Scout wants to encourage our readers to ‘shop local,’ and support our hometown businesses when making your holiday shopping decisions. Rather than ordering online or driving to LaCrosse or Madison, consider doing your holiday shopping in Gays Mills, Soldiers Grove, Seneca, Ferryville, Coon Valley and Viroqua.
This holiday season, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is urging everyone to visit and shop at Wisconsin’s unique small businesses that help make our communities more vibrant and our state more prosperous.
Governor Tony Evers has proclaimed Nov. 29 through Dec. 31 as ‘Shop Small Season.’
Studies have shown that for every $100 spent at a local business, $68 typically stays in the community, while only $43 remains when spent at a national chain store.
“Small businesses are the heart of our downtowns and communities. They attract both visitors and residents and create a vibrant space where people want to get together,” said WEDC Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Sam Rikkers. “The holiday sea-son is an important time of year for consumers to sup-port these small businesses, because the weeks leading up to the holidays are often the time of year when these businesses see the biggest financial impact.”
The gift of food
Solar Meats: this Soldiers Grove business specializes in beef, elk, pork and lamb, as well as specialty smokehouse items such as sausages and bacon. Consider a practical gift that will nourish your loved ones and support a local business. Gift certificates are available in any amount desired. Call 608-624-5525 for more information.
Eastman Locker: This remodeled and expanded Eastman business offers a full range of locally produced meats and smokehouse items. In addition, they offer some poultry and seafood. You can’t go wrong with the gift of food, and supporting a local business with your holiday purchases means keeping money in the pockets of our neighbors. Call 608-874-4331 for more information.
Ferryville Cheese Store: the store offers cheese and sausage gift boxes. To order, go into the store, call Ferryville Cheese Store at 608-734-3121, or ferryvillecheese.com/products.php?cat=Gift+Boxes The cheese store also offers cheese and sausage items for all of your holiday entertaining needs.
Klinkner Country Store: featuring family farm fresh-frozen beef and pork, eggs, Westby Co-op Creamery's cheeses, butter, and yogurt, local seasonal goods, country décor, holiday greenery, Christmas trees, and more. Support this local farm store business at S7304A State Highway 82, Viroqua (just west of Liberty Pole), 608-606-0183, galwub@hotmail.com.
Westby Cooperative Creamery: support this locally owned and operated cooperative of dairy farmers, offering holiday gift boxes, and a full range of dairy products, organic dairy products, and specialty cheese and meats. Online orders and curbside delivery are available at their website at www.westbycreamery.com.
Edible Art Charcuterie Boards: Krystal Campbell has business providing charcuterie boards for all your family gatherings and occasions. To place an order, call Campbell’s One Stop in Soldiers Grove at 608-624-5701.
Gays Mills
Oppriecht Acres Christmas Tree Farm will open on Friday, Nov. 28, on the day after Thanksgiving. The farm will be open November 28, 29 and 30, and December 6, 7, 13 and 14.
Friends of Gays Mills Christmas Craft Event: This holiday shopping event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Gays Mills Mercantile Center, 16381 Highway 131, Gays Mills. Participants can enjoy holiday crafts and décor, festive treats and hot chocolate, walking tacos, a children’s craft station, and a Chinese raffle. All proceeds from the event go back to community projects.
Christmas Fun at Sunrise Orchards: Sunrise Orchards will hold a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at their main orchard location at 48340 Highway 171, Gays Mills. Santa will visit the orchard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and there will be cookies, hot chocolate, apple cider, and cookie decorating. A free chili and pulled pork sandwich lunch will also be available.
Gays Mills Connect Communities Holiday Sip & Shop: will take place in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center on Friday, Dec. 12, from 7-8:30 p.m. The festive evening will offer shoppers holiday specials, and businesses will offer tastings of various beverages with light nibbles. Participants will also receive a passport which they can have stamped at each of the businesses, and when completed, will qualify them to enter in a $50 prize drawing. There will be live music in the common area of the building as well.
Little Boxes Vintage: located in the Gays Mills Mercantile Center sells vintage items sure to delight every gift recipient.
Ocooch Mountain General Store: this little store on Highway 131 in Gays Mills offers great automotive service and supplies, an impressive collection of hunting gear and apparel, and an eclectic selection of housewares and other unique items. Stop in for a hot beverage or a smoothie, and find presents for under the tree and stocking stuffers.
Kickapoo Exchange Cooperative: The Co-op offers holiday gift baskets, beer and wine, healthy seasonal foods and bulk food items.
Soldiers Grove
Old Oak Inn Winter Farmer’s Market: The Old Oak Inn in Soldiers Grove will hold a Winter Farmer’s Market on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29-30, at their location at 500 Church Street in Soldiers Grove. The event will run from 12-4 p.m. in the Banquet Hall, and will be repeated monthly through the winter into April. Lunch will be available from the restaurant/bar during the events.
Solar Town Farm & Home Center: Solar Town Farm & Home Center has a wide selection of useful items that make great holiday gifts. They sell wrapping paper and other Christmas items as well.
Seneca
Johnson’s One Stop: the store will have a Black Friday and Super Saturday sale again this year. It’s our ‘Dashin’ to the Deals’ sale,’ which runs the two days on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29. There are head-turner deals throughout the store, including grocery. Another area that the store has expanded recently is their clothing and women’s fashion department. They’ll have coffee, cider, cookies and popcorn. Another feature is the fresh cut trees, wreaths and garland, all arriving just in time for this sale. Folks should be watching for new sales every week through Christmas.
Readstown
Second Nature at Reads Creek: Starting on November 21, visitors can enjoy everything from fresh-cut and live potted Christmas trees to festive workshops and holiday-themed activities. Stroll through the gift shop for unique, nature-inspired gifts and decorations. You’ll find everything from handcrafted items and holiday décor to garden-themed gifts perfect for everyone on your list. The hot cocoa bar will be open, offering warm drinks and treats to enjoy while you shop. On select days, kids can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy a classic carriage ride along beautiful Reads Creek on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 2-4 p.m.. There will be make-and-take workshops – for more information, go to their website at SecondNatureAtReadsCreek.com.
Ferryville
Ferryville Farmer’s Market Holiday Event: Ferryville Tourism and Promotion will offer their annual Holiday Market on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ferryville Village Hall. The event will offer food, craft vendors, a lunch for sale and hot coffee.
Viroqua
Twinklefest Light Village Christmas Market will be open at 925 Nelson Parkway in Viroqua on Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 28-29, and Dec.5-6. Friday hours are 4-7 p.m., and Saturday hours are 12-6 p.m. The shopping venue will offer crafts in the Café on Saturdays from 12-3 p.m., music, food, horse-drawn rides and visits from Santa on Saturdays from 2-5 p.m. and lots of family fun. Admission is free.
VIVA Gallery’s Holiday Artisan Market: VIVA’s First Thursday reception will take place on December 4, from 5-7 p.m. The Artisan Market will continue through the rest of 2025. VIVA Gallery is located at 217 South Main Street in Viroqua. In addition to the Artisan Market, gallery members present first-class artwork in mediums from pottery to paintings, jewelry to hand-woven wearables, beautiful furniture and decorative items for the home. You will also find special holiday card(s) printed with artist paintings and photography and a wide variety of stocking stuffers and ornaments.
Parrish Music: Parrish Music at 111 S. Main Street in Viroqua represents a very carefully selected line of instruments that offer the very best quality and value. They don’t carry anything based solely on price; rather, their product choices are based on tone, playability, build quality, and bang for the buck: the ‘best in class’ instruments. They carry the Midwest’s best selection of ukuleles, and often have over 40 models on the wall. In Catherine’s ‘flute corner’ you’ll find new and used concert flutes for sale and available to rent, alongside flutes from Ireland, India, Japan, and South America. They also carry locally crafted Native American Flutes from two different makers.
Blue Dog Cycles: Blue Dog Cycles on Main Street in Viroqua specializes in bicycles, e-bikes, bike apparel and accessories, snowshoes, and more. Support this local business with outdoor adventure gifts and give the gift of a healthy active lifestyle. Shop online at https://www.bluedogcycles.com.
Viroqua Public Market: Shoppers on Main Street at the Viroqua Public Market can stroll through the beautiful art gallery or browse the great selection of jewelry, gifts, candy and canned goods, and antiques in the market.
