BY MARY POLLITZ
Like myself after Thanksgiving lunch, this paper is stuffed.
Though I’ll be stuffed with turkey, dressing and about four different kinds of desserts, this paper is stuffed with deals and plans to spend your Thanksgiving evening and Black Friday preparing for the holidays.
With less than a month before Christmas, I know shoppers will be hitting the stores this weekend searching for perfect family gifts.
Belk in Columbus will open with doorbuster deals on clothing, shoes and more. Starting at 4 p.m. Thanksgiving afternoon you can find more than just the typical clothing savings, including $200 Playstation 4s, $20 Amazon Fire Sticks and $40 luggage sets. Belk will close briefly Friday morning at 1 a.m. and reopen its doors at 6 a.m. for continued deals and doorbusters.
My fellow sports enthusiasts, Dick’s Sporting Goods is slashing 25 percent off everything. Once your bellies are full and feet are warm, run over to get those Christmas goodies 6 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. Friday. The sporting goods store will reopen at 5 a.m. early Friday morning
Ashley Furniture in Columbus is open Friday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., taking off for Thanksgiving day. With furniture galore, check out “buy one get one 50 percent off” items or save 30 percent on one item.
Goose Hollow Furniture will also host an insane Black Friday sale. Friday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. get 37 percent off your entire cash purchase or up to 60 months of no interest.
If you’re like me and live in a creative family, you might be on the lookout for a creative way to Christmas shop. Michael’s in Columbus will open Thursday 6 p.m. until midnight with 30 percent off your entire purchase. If you’re staying in and watching some of the stellar football games, the Egg Bowl and the Saints division matchup with Atlanta included, you can check out Michael’s deals on Friday and still save 25 percent off your entire purchase.
In Starkville and Columbus, Walmart will open its doors at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Check out some Airpods or an Apple watch for just $129 and a slew of smart TVs for all your streaming needs at slashed prices.
If you’re looking for new bikes, trampolines or outdoor supplies, bundle up and stay warm Thanksgiving night. Academy Sports and Outdoors will be closed Thanksgiving and open traditionally on Black Friday at 5 a.m.
Tractor Supply in Columbus and Starkville will both open Friday at 7 a.m. Friday only, until 9 p.m., you can save $200 on a fireproof gun safe, $20 off Carhartt sweatshirts and more.
Dollar General will also be open on Thanksgiving 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
With big box retailers shelling out some big time deals, don’t forget to also contribute to the stores in your neighborhood owned by members of your church congregation, former classmates or simply just familiar faces in a crowd.
Speaking of, a Columbus boutique, Park Place, will open its doors Thanksgiving night at 10 p.m. and stay open until 5 p.m. on Friday. The boutique will offer a free gift with a $25 purchase 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Park Place will also have Southern Marsh pullovers, one-hour massage and $50 gift card giveaways throughout its Black Friday sales.
Barbara Bigelow, executive director of Columbus Main Street, said she hopes shoppers remember the impact made by supporting locally this season. Downtown Columbus will host Small Business Saturday this weekend from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with local businesses offering discounts, deals and more.
“You may not realize for every $100 spent in independently owned businesses, $68 returns to our community through taxes, stays in the community,” Bigelow said. “…Shop our downtown businesses on Small Business Saturday and take advantage of special in-store promotions and door prizes.”
Likewise in Starkville, Mayor Lynn Spruill is encouraging those locally to do the same.
“I believe that shopping local is important in so many ways,” Spruill said. “It is a way to support your community, your friends and your neighbors. …It is a way to invest in your city and participate in shaping the future growth and development.”
Check out Starkville’s participating stores at https://www.starkville.org/black-friday-bonanza/.
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