The first day of the Christmas season kicks off on Thursday.

Moose Jaw is celebrating Christmas in October this weekend in the downtown area.

Dozens of businesses downtown will be participating in the celebration, "Everyone has all of their Christmas lights up and all of their beautiful displays that they worked so hard to create and we invite our community. Everyone in Moose Jaw and the surrounding areas, spread the word to come out and support all of our local businesses for this weekend," said Michaela Turner, Secretary of the Down Town Moose Jaw Association.

Businesses will be open late and will be selling specialized products or deals or offering free food or drinks or entertainment. Each business has its twist for the celebration and it depends on what the business is.

Turner says this is a great way to start the holiday season and help support Moose Jaw's local businesses, "Shopping local in Moose Jaw is so important. Our local businesses are our friends, and our families and our neighbours, and they have been faced with so many challenges the past year and a half and they need our support to not only make it day-to-day but to have some joy," she says.

People can pick up brochures from businesses participating this weekend, which are:

- Ashdown's Furniture and Interiors
- Casino Moose Jaw
- Cask 82
- Celtic Heart Health & Beauty Day Spa
- Clothes Encounter
- Cranberry Collective Boutique
- Cranberry Consignment
- Dolce Salon & Spa
- Emerald Custom Creations
- Emerald’s Jewelry
- Gemmel’s Shoes
- Jillian's Design Elements
- Lion’s Creek Olive Estate
- Moose Jaw Co-op
- Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce
- Quilters Haven
- Sahara Spa
- Taste Patisserie by Katrina
- Temple Gardens Mineral Spa
- The Gallery Café at Yvette Moore Gallery
- The Hive
- The Mad Greek
- The Perfect Find
- Tunnels of Moose Jaw
- Twenty-Eight Décor
- Wildflowers Bistro & Boutique
- Ultimate Fan Zone
- Wrapture Spa & Boutique
- Yvette Moore Gallery of Fine Arts
- Fifth Avenue Collection
- Queso Burritos

The brochure will also tell you what services each business is offering for the event.

Tourism Moose Jaw is also involved and will be offering Trolley Tours throughout Thursday, October 21, and Friday the 22nd.

People can find more information from the Downtown Moose Jaw Association website and Facebook page.