The holiday season is now in full swing, and Charlotte County is kicking into high gear with the holiday festivities.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the holiday season is defined as “the time from late November through January when several holidays (such as Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve) happen.”

While the holidays are a great time to remember the real reason for the season and enjoy time with family and friends, wallets also have a tendency to become a little lighter. You might find yourself shelling out a little extra money this time of year on travel expenses, food, gift-giving and attending holiday-themed events.

However, for holiday budget hunters, Charlotte County offers a variety of programs at little or no cost.

A few of these programs include the Keysville Christmas Parade, Phenix Christmas Parade, tree lighting in Charlotte Court House, the annual Pancake Supper with Santa in Phenix and Old-Fashioned Christmas event held this past weekend in Drakes Branch.

With such a wide variety of programs in the county, holiday lovers are bound to find something the entire family can enjoy.

Supporting local events will ensure that these options will continue to be available. Additionally, attending a holiday event with loved ones can be a great bonding experience.

During the holiday season, one of the most common emerging themes is thankfulness. There are many things to be thankful about, so take this opportunity as a period to reflect.

Spend time with your friends and family, give back to your community, and show random acts of kindness to complete strangers. Most of all, let everything you do come straight from the heart.

So I ask, what are you most thankful for this holiday season?

Italia Gregory is the community editor of The Charlotte Gazette. Her email address is italia.gregory@thecharlottegazette.com.