Rugby will welcome visitors to an early holiday celebration November 1-3 when local businesses celebrate “Christmas in a Small Town.”

Organizer and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darylanna Durkee told the Tribune several local businesses and facilities plan to host open houses, sales, workshops and meet-and-greet events to encourage people to “spend locally.”

Durkee said the holidays tend to take people by surprise, so the celebration during the first week in November makes sense.

“I know it’s a little early to go Christmas shopping, but you can get that holiday look for your home; you can get the holiday look for yourself, and start thinking of Christmas things,” Durkee noted.

Although Rugby businesses have hosted Christmas events before, Durkee said she collaborated with several shop owners to coordinate an activity that would draw interest from neighboring communities.

Durkee said, “I talked to Missy (Kraft) at the Brown Lantern, and she said there used to be a lot more participation in the event years back. (Kraft) expressed that we needed to have a lot more people involved, because it’s harder to get those people to drive 30 miles if there’s only going to be one store open. So I took the opportunity to talk to a few businesses in town to see if they would be interested in having a sale or special.”

Durkee noted, “There was a lot of interest and excitement for having a special weekend before Black Friday, so we could encourage people to shop local before they emptied their wallet at the big box stores with their Black Friday sales, and of course, Cyber Monday. “

Fourteen local businesses and the Heart of America Library have events planned during the three-day celebration.

Shops open until 8 p.m. the evening of Thursday, November 1 include: The Brown Lantern, Holly’s Stitches and Crafts, Fashion and Flair Outlet, Cindy’s Country Cupboard, Main St. Boutique, Stylin’ You, Embroideries, Vintage Knots, I Design, St. Michel Furniture, Magnolia Wellness and Hardware Hank.

The Heart of America Library and Joy Dental Design will host open houses that evening. Joy Dental Design’s event will be held from 6-8 p.m., and the library’s open house will take place from 5-8 p.m.

Magnolia Wellness Spa will host an “Essential Oils 101” class Saturday, November 3. The Prairie Village Museum will host a marketplace featuring local businesses and crafters such as The Farmer’s Wife Cakes from 12-6 p.m. that day as well.

Additionally, Durkee said Embroideries plans to host presentations from guests artists during the event.

“There are a lot of businesses who are going to be involved,” Durkee said. “It’s a good weekend to just stay in Rugby and come down for the weekend.”