The holiday season is right around the corner and more than 25 Brookhaven businesses, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, are planning to host Christmas open house events on Nov. 7 and Nov. 21.

The events are meant to draw people locally and from out of town to come shopping in Brookhaven. Kay Burton with the Chamber said shopping locally in Brookhaven is critical to the local economy.

“It’s one of the reasons that we are such a thriving small town is that people take advantage of our local stores,” Burton said. “Even though they might can get it on Amazon a few dollars cheaper or go to a big box in another town. We want people to understand that when you shop local, it infuses your own economy. It helps support jobs here locally, and it makes us all successful.”

It’s not just an event for locals, however. Burton said they will be advertising the event in newspapers and on the radio all over the state. They have an email database of about 3,000 people who have come for previous promotions, many of them from out of town.

“And the two dates this year will help. Some of the crowds are so incredible. We’re hoping that if one date didn’t work with your schedule, we’ve got that other date to fall back on this year,” she said.

During the open house events, stores set their own discounts and have various events, but all stores participating will also participate in Hometown Bucks. Starting on Nov. 7, shoppers can fill out a form every time they visit one of the stores. Every week, a $100 winner will be chosen from those who enter. On the sixth week, one person will win a $500 grand prize.

Some participating businesses will also have extended hours every Thursday, including Thanksgiving night and Christmas Eve. Burton said they may not be open all day on the holidays, but those participating will be open in the evening until 8 p.m.

“We also have a theme T-shirt that you can only get during this event,” Burton said. “Not every store carries them, but a lot of them do. Our theme this year is a snow globe of Brookhaven.”

On the shirt, a snow globe contains the Homeseekers Paradise sign standing tall over an artistic rendition of downtown Brookhaven. The base of the globe says “Merry Christmas Y’all.” Burton also said people can get the shirt by calling the Chamber of Commerce.