If you haven’t completed your Christmas shopping this year, there’s still time, but with a shorter than usual timeline between Thanksgiving and Christmas, many of us found ourselves behind before Black Friday deals were even unveiled.

It’s hard to believe, but Santa Claus is coming to town in 18 days. If you’re anything like us, these next few weeks will be some of the busiest of the year. Many have family to prepare for, cooking to do, presents to wrap and of course, work to get done.

That’s why this weekend is the one to get some of your remaining holiday shopping done.

We’re sure many of the local shops around town will have great deals this weekend, and we encourage anyone still looking for that perfect gift to give them a chance. Driving to Newnan or Atlanta will take a big chunk out of your weekend, and there is plenty to do in LaGrange.

Even if you aren’t shopping, there are family events available around town. Both the Royal Academy School of Dance and the Lafayette Ballet Company will perform their productions of “The Nutcracker” this weekend, and we can say from past experience that both are phenomenal. The weekend will also feature an Ugly Sweater Party at Wild Leap, a variety of Christmas markets and workshops and musical performances by the Sons of Lafayette and LaGrange College Music Students — not to mention carriage rides in downtown LaGrange and Sweetland on Ice.

We encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy LaGrange during the Christmas season. It’ll be over before we know it.