But you still haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Christmas falling on Monday means there’s still 2 full days to find the perfect gifts
If you’re a last-minute-shopper, this weekend is custom-made for you. With Christmas falling on a Monday this year, it means you have all of today and tomorrow to do all those festive things you’ve been putting off, previously forgotten or can’t or won’t do until you’re up against it.
“Oh yes, with Christmas on Monday it means there’s still a lot of shopping time left,” said Vikki Webster, marketing manager at Kelowna’s Orchard Park mall, which will undoubtedly be the busiest place this weekend as the Okanagan’s largest shopping centre with 170 stores over 685,000 square feet.
“We’ll see a real mix of shoppers. Those that are just picking up some last-minute stocking stuffers and those that have an additional guest popping over that they have to get a gift to those who are just starting their Christmas shopping and have to get everything done in two days.”
And Orchard Park is being accommodating with opening hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.
To avoid the thickest crowds, Webster recommends showing up right at 9 a.m. as the doors open or trying tonight from 7:30 to 9 p.m. when others may have given up to finally go home.
She sees the traditional gift categories of jewelry, clothing and electronics as strong again this year.
While online, Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping are eroding bricks-and-mortar outings, Orchard Park has had a successful 2017 and busy Christmas shopping season.
“People like to shop online, but they also like to actually go out and shop so they can see, touch and feel and try clothing on.”
Jesse Clipperton, manager of London Drugs in Kelowna, expects the store to be busy the entire time it’s open today 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
“We have such a wide variety of goods that people will be shopping for electronics, small appliances and cosmetics and fragrances for Christmas presents, but they will also be picking up all the stuff you need to prep for Christmas and company coming,” said Clipperton.
Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think it’s only men who leave things to the last minute.
And we can’t forget the grocery stores and liquor stores.
This weekend is prime time to stock up on all the food and booze you’ll need to sustain you through
Oh yes, with Christmas on Monday it means there’s still a lot of shopping time left. We’ll see a real mix of shoppers. Orchard Park mall marketing manager Vikki Webster
the holidays.
And shopping is really just the start of it. You’ll probably have to wrap all those presents this weekend, do a mountain of food prep and stuff the turkey and the stockings. Best to do it with a drink in hand. But don’t spend your whole weekend shopping and doing chores.
It’s a winter wonderland out there, so get out and enjoy it.
“It’s definitely going to be a white Christmas,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa West.
“We have some Arctic Air flowing through, so temperatures aren’t going to get above zero, and we might even get some more snow, so all the snow that’s already on the ground is going to be there for Christmas.”
Today’s forecast is cloudy with a high of -7 C.
Christmas Eve will be mostly cloudy with a high of -8 C and a low of -11 C and a 40 per cent chance of light snow — perfect weather for Santa to make his way to your place overnight.
The big day on the 25th will see some sunny periods, a high of -7 C and a low of -13 C and a chance of some light snow in the morning.
The agreeable weather means holiday winter travel shouldn’t be a nightmare.
Main routes in the Okanagan are mostly clear with some compact snow and slippery sections.
Highways to Vancouver and Calgary also have some compact snow and slippery sections.
The Kelowna airport will be busy, but isn’t expecting any weather-related delays.
The peak travel day was actually yesterday when 30 flights arrived and 30 flights departed with a total of 8,600 passengers.
That included several planes headed to Cuba and Mexico to deliver people who want to avoid the cold and snow to the sun and sand.
However, today will be almost as busy.
So, airport director Sam Samaddar recommends you show up at least two hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time and don’t pack or carry any wrapped Christmas gifts because they might have to be opened for security reasons.
The airport is under continual expansion, improvements and renovations, but all has been halted for the holiday season.
However, the new outbound luggage system, additional check-in counters and more departure gates have been completed and are in operation, not just for the holiday, but forever more.
The 2,600 parking stalls at the airport are filling up quickly, so Samaddar recommends getting a ride, a cab, bus or shuttle.
Merry Christmas and enjoy, especially if you’ll be back to do some Boxing Day shopping.