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It seems like every day on the calendar has been dedicated to something.
So, you like ice cream? You'll want to make a special note of July 19 -- that's when National Ice Cream Day will be celebrated in 2026.
What about hot dogs? That falls on the third Wednesday of July each year, so you can start planning now for July 15.
Many favorite things in our lives have a couple of days set aside -- National Pizza Day is set for Feb. 9, and National Pizza Day with Everything (Except Anchovies) is Nov. 12.
And, depending on the listing you go by, National Hamburger Day will fall on May 28, July 28, Aug. 27 or Dec. 21. And don't forget about National Steak Day (April 26), National Prime Rib Day (April 27) and National Filet Mignon Day (Aug. 13.)
Some special days might not fall on the same date every year, but they do fall at the same time, which, thankfully, makes them easier to keep track of.
Thanksgiving, for example, falls on a different date every year, but we know that it will be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
With that holiday just a few days away, the annual push toward the Christmas holiday is set to begin. That means Black Friday, which for decades has marked the official start of the Christmas shopping season, is almost here, as are Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.
While the growth of online shopping, which has seen the emergence of its own days and weeks -- think Amazon Prime Days -- continues to play a big role in how people obtain goods and services, especially around the holidays, it remains important to think about checking with local merchants first when you are looking to buy.
"Ultimately, when you are shopping local, you are investing back into the community everyone calls home," explained Emily Byers, president of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. "Local businesses are the ones who sponsor youth organizations and donate to fundraisers when they are held."
That's important to remember every day of the year, and especially on an occasion like Small Business Saturday. It's a day that was founded by American Express in 2010 to help call attention to small businesses and their communities -- and it always falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, right at the start of the holiday rush.
According to the Small Business Development Center, the day became backed by a Senate resolution in 2011. The U.S. Small Business Administration became an official co-sponsor in 2015.
"The value of shopping local comes from supporting the people who run local businesses," explained Eric Fithyan, president of the Brooke County Area Chamber of Commerce. "Local businesses are the mom-and-pop businesses. They give back to local youth sports teams and help drive the local economy.
"They are places where you can find special items -- things that are very personal and unique," he added. "Small business owners stay up through the night producing items and are always willing to serve their customers."
There are 36.2 million small businesses in the United States, the SBDC said. Together, they employ about 623 million people -- that's 45.9 percent of the U.S. workforce. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that during the past 20 years, small businesses have accounted for about 40 percent of the U.S.'s gross domestic product.
That includes all the local businesses who are looking to get their share of the $890.49 that consumers plan to spend per person on holiday gifts, food decorations and other seasonal items, the National Retail Federation reports in its annual consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics.
That's a lot of money -- it's just 1.3 percent lower than the record of $901.89 that was set last year.
"All of our retailers are very well equipped and get excited," Byers said. "In many ways, I think they are more on top of it than some of the consumers.
A great deal of that money will be spent during the coming weekend. Since it was founded, Small Business Saturday has generated more than $210 billion in reported sales, according to American Express.
"You know I am a big believer in shopping local and shopping around in your home town, not only here, but wherever you are at," said Brenda Mull, president of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce. "It promotes the economy and puts tax dollars back into the community, and it keeps the businesses going.
"That's what its all about," she added. "We should be shopping local all of the time, anyway, but this time of the year, that's when we feel it is the more important to support local businesses. And, the local businesses support one another -- it's a win-win for everyone."
Mull explained that small businesses are on the rise in our area.
"We have never had this many grand openings consecutively," she said. "It's good that people are bringing in businesses and that they want to be here."
Fithyan said there always are opportunities to show your support for small businesses.
"In the springtime, for instance, there is small business week," he explained. "There are a lot of things you can do. Whether it's making a purchase, thanking a business owner, liking their Facebook page or leaving a review. These are things you can do that will really have an impact on a small business."
As Byers, Mull and Fithyan observed, making your purchases at local businesses can have a great impact on the area.
"Small businesses are helping to revitalize the downtown area," Byers said. "We are supporting them, and they are supporting us. I think that helps build an all-around community."
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)