Fall is in full swing. You know how I love my summer months and pool days, but I enjoy fall and all the fun that comes with it…the cooler temps, cute pumpkins and my favorite thing: fall festivals.

At Collective Alternative, we love local. It’s a mission I not only follow in my work, but in my personal life as well. The area’s fall festivals and craft fairs are full of fun, food and one-of-a-kind items from small, local vendors. Many of these individuals make their living off these in-person events, and with last year’s cancellations and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to support local.

Here are some upcoming local events you can attend to buy great holiday gifts, treat yourself to fun finds and support hardworking local businesses.

And of course, I would encourage you to participate in Small Business Saturday on November 27th. Yes, it’s easy to purchase another item and get it in 2 days with Prime. Sure, it’s convenient to open an app and order dinner from a national chain. But purchasing gifts or gift cards from local vendors, buying treats from your neighborhood bakery and sharing social media posts from local businesses is vital and makes an impact on not just their lives, but the wellbeing of your community and our economy. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our country — take the time to celebrate and support them and all they do for our communities.

This season, I encourage you to love local more than ever.