Downtown Harrisonburg has quite a few shops that have unique gifts that are perfect for Christmas.

At many local stores you can add your own personal touch.

'You Made It' always offers something local and you are the one who makes it.

Bruce Wissler brought his granddaughter in to make some Christmas gifts a few weeks ago.

"It was a rainy day and I had my granddaughter. I heard about this place so I brought her in. She wanted to do something for her grandmother and mother for Christmas and she painted up a horse for Garden State," Wissler.

Sara Schu came all the way from Luray to make a Christmas Gift.

"I wanted to make something for my step sister. She has two little boys...Justice and Josiah. So I'm going to make them a Cookies for Santa plate with a mug too for Santa. They can put the milk in it and have a little tradition every year," said Schu.

Harrisonburg is starting a new tradition this year and the owner of The Mint, Anna Pelletier, is excited to organize the holiday event

"I just thought that it would be great to create more awareness of all the shops that are down here,” said Pelletier.

“The first Fridays over the summer were such a hit that it would be fun to follow the same model and have a Holiday Friday,” said Pelletier.

Pelletier said the small business community is excited this year.

"There's a lot of small businesses downtown. And there's a growing small business community and it's really positive and supports each other," said Pelletier.

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