It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The community is rolling out the welcome mat for Santa Claus this weekend, and in the immortal words of late entertainment guru Ed Sullivan, "It's going to be a really big show. Really big."

Storefronts and interiors have been festively adorned with the trappings of the season - along with some great local deals on gifts for friends and loved ones, so there's no real need to go out-of-country for your shopping needs.

Shopping for Christmas gifts locally helps local businesses that depend for much of their annual revenue on this season. so it's kind of like giving twice. And by assuring a healthy local economy, the whole community benefits [Black day when money leaves, Nov. 22 Opinion, TIMES ].

But there's more fun than shopping in store for the lead-up to the most joyous holiday of the year.

Don't miss the Maple Ridge Christmas Festival and Santa Parade on Saturday. Organizers assure that this year's spectacle will enthrall the kiddies expectantly waiting for Santa to arrive. The festival starts at 4 p.m. in Memorial Peace Park, and the parade kicks off at 6 p.m. (See page B12-13 for details.)

Join the bright lights and pageantry at Osprey Village's neighbourhood party on Sunday, Dec. 2. (See page B8.)

The following Friday you'll all want to scoot over to Pitt Meadows Spirit Square for the tree-lighting celebration at 6: 30 p.m. (See page B14-15.)

Don't forget the reason for the season, and the spirit of giving that it fosters - not just for friends and family, but for everyone, including those who have less than the rest. (See our Spirit of Christmas section, pages B1-16.)

The Spirit of Christmas is indeed settling all around us. Enjoy!