One of my favorite sights of this time of year is driving down our area’s winding country roads and seeing every tree in a different color. The past few years haven’t been as memorable as this one with seemingly every shade of orange, yellow, or red on display. And once the leaves start changing, that can only mean one thing: Christmas will soon be here. We haven’t even put away our jack o’ lanterns and spider webs, but it’s never too early to start picking out gifts for the holiday season. With the downtown Iuka open house event this weekend, it’s the perfect time to start your early shopping.
Iuka is a gem of a town with a downtown area revitalizing itself with renovation. Many of the downtown businesses will have some incredible shopping and tasty food options, all within walking distance. This year, the holiday market is starting Friday, November 4th and going through Saturday and it’s a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the town and explore all its options. If you haven’t had the chance to enter some of the recently remodeled stores or take a peek into the ones transforming, now is the perfect time to do so while all the shops will be looking their best with holiday decor.
You can find a gift for everyone on your list here. I’m going to go ahead and give every man the biggest hint ever for Christmas: you cannot go wrong if you purchase something from Moore’s Jewelry. Since 1959, this family not only has beautiful jewelry, they also have to be the most well-trained people in town on how to keep engagements a secret for decades now. From fine jewelry to the simple staples every girl needs to have, it’s all here. With a sale running storewide November 4th - 6th, now is the time to shop.
Now that you’re feeling festive, walk down to the Friendly Florist to absorb the essence of Christmas and find all your Christmas decor. What kind of fine Southern family would you be without the proper holiday door hanger? For more than 30 years, Kim Borden and staff have been serving the county through not only holidays but every significant life event – from birthdays and weddings to funerals. You’ll never be disappointed with the service and selection at Friendly Florist. They will also be offering discounts and refreshments on Saturday so it’s worth a visit to check out the latest in decor and home trends.
If I got paid for restaurant referrals, I’d be rich on how many people I’ve told about Cream & Sugar Cafe. This restaurant is exactly what downtown Iuka needed. There’s something about the breakfast all-day menu that just hits right, especially for kids. Speaking from experience, don’t assume you can roll off the lake in a t-shirt looking not so great in the middle of the week and think you won’t see anybody you know. It’s so popular with visitors and locals that I’ve yet to see it not busy.
Down on Fulton Street there are several more shops you don’t want to miss: Pray Pottery, and down the hill to Hissy Fits! The Curated Cottage and Uncle Shirley’s offer such a vast selection of antiques and art that I can easily convince my husband to shop there as well. There’s always a treasure to find in one of the booths, including the framed map of Mississippi that my husband had to have. It’s also the perfect place to pick up a little gift to make someone’s day. While you’re there, jump down to River Rags to get one of their classic t-shirts or pieces of apparel. Hint: Woodall Mountain t-shirts work well as gifts for those people on your list who are a challenge to buy for! River Rags will even gift wrap your purchase while shopping. Getting a gift and not having to wrap it? I’m in!
The Iuka Downtown Holiday Open House is Friday November 4th and Saturday the 5th, with various events, treats, and discounts offered and it’s a fantastic way to kick off the Holiday season. Yes, it’s still the heart of football season and yes, we still have to rake up our yards, but December will be here before you know it and wouldn’t it be nice to get most of your shopping list done early!