You don’t have to wait to go back home to begin your Christmas shopping this year. You also don’t need to buy all your gifts online sitting around your uptown apartment. There are plenty of great shopping resources in Athens. You support your local community and get a break from finals at the same time.
Since OU switched to semesters, local shops have been making efforts to appeal to students and add festivity to uptown shops. The city spends nearly $50,000 on Christmas lighting, mostly thanks to donations from local businesses who also want to cash in on the festivity.
“Back when we (OU) were on quarters, students were home for Thanksgiving (winter) break. I was driving on Court Street in early December, and it was so depressing because everywhere else you went there were Christmas lights, and Court Street looked like a ghost town,” Local businessman Les Cornwell told the Athens News.
Planned Holiday Events
This year uptown shops will feature a Gingerbread House Display and a tree lighting celebration with horse drawn wagon rides.
Parking is also free on many city street locations, as well as at the City of Athens Parking Garage December 3, 10, and 17 after 5 p.m. and all day each Saturday in December, according to the Athens County Visitors Bureau.