At least one canoe, marble wall runs, Lego, warm PJs and Yukon made crafts and goodies will be making their way under Christmas trees tonight.

In a number of separate interviews last week, local business owners and managers said locals seemed to be waiting as long as they could in the hopes of warmer weather to get out and do their shopping.

By late last week, it seemed residents had given up on the weather and were out in full force, looking for those last-minute items despite the chilly temperatures.

There were some exceptions to the last-minute shoppers over the Dec. 15-16 weekend.

Many made their way to Up North Adventures for its annual early December sale.

"It was bigger than ever,” owner Mark Stenzig said Friday afternoon.

Winter wear and gear were naturally big sellers this season, along with tours being booked and, for those perhaps more difficult to buy for, gift cards.

A multi-activity half-day tour is among the more popular of the tours to purchase with a bit of dog mushing.

Emma Stinson, who works at the store and also as the ventures school co-ordinator and a guide, said she even sold a canoe to someone looking to buy one large family gift rather than individual items for each family member.

Like many shops in town and throughout the continent, Up North is also planning a Boxing Day sale with up to 70 per cent off everything in the store.

With two specialty toy shops in town, many Whitehorse kids will likely have a large selection of treats in their stockings or under the tree.

"It's been really busy,” Tots & Toddlers store owner Stacey McDiarmid said Friday.

There's a huge difference between last year, when she had just opened the Porter Creek store to this year, she noted.

Many new customers have been coming in from out of town, and the shop has been taking a lot of orders over the phone to be picked up later.

Glitter tattoes, wall coasters – a track for marbles that can be arranged on the wall – and the Perplexus maze toys are among the top items selling at the store, with a number of customers taking advantage of the extended hours the shop has stayed open for much of December.

Normally, the store is open from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m., but for this month it has largely been open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with McDiarmid also bringing in a student for additional help.

Tots & Toddlers are also on the long list of local stores planning a Boxing Day sale.

Downtown at the other local toy shop in town – Angelina's Toy & Children's Boutique – marble runs, Perplexus also dominate sales.

So do vintage Fisher Price toys (think the classic milk wagons, record players, TV sets and so on, many played with 20 or more years ago) only sold to specialty toy shops,

Prince Lionhart playmats, Playmobile toys and sets and bracelet makers are on their list of Top 10 items, owner Betty Burns said.

"There's a wide range,” she said.

Most people coming into the store are choosing to buy one quality item for each child in their lives over a lot of little things.

As Burns noted, the store has a philosophy that sees it focus on higher-quality items. That means most people coming into the store are looking for that sort of item.

Burns noted in recent years the store made an effort at being involved in the community, which has drawn new customers in.

So too has a couple of mentions in Today's Parent magazine in both the October and November editions.

The store has had extended hours through this month as well and will also have prices marked down on Boxing Day.

While shoppers may head to the two specialty toy stores when they're looking for specific items for the children and babies in their lives, many are also making stops at the larger shops in town looking for items for everyone on their list.

Joking about the cold weather, local Canadian Tire store manager Dwayne Lesiuk said vehicle batteries, timers and extension cords are the big sellers right now.

He also noted there seem to be a lot of the more traditional purchases leaving the shop: wives buying tools for their husbands, husbands buying appliances for their wives and parents buying Lego for their kids.

The Sodastream seems to be one of the most popular items this Christmas, with the store having difficulty keeping it on the shelf.

The machine makes sparkling water or soda with a number of different syrup favours available, ranging from cola to iced tea to a variety of fruit favours and others.

Both the machines and syrup have been flying off the shelf, Lesiuk said.

It seems this year many have been buying larger items at Canadian Tire, though Lesiuk also noted many of the smaller stocking stuffers would likely be purchased over the past weekend.

On Friday, Climate Clothing owner Lorraine Stick was also expecting a busy weekend of shoppers looking for both last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers like socks and leg warmers.

Inside her shop in the Horwoods Mall, just a short hallway walk from Angelina's, Stick said she's noticed a considerable difference in business on warmer days. As Christmas was drawing closer though, more and more people were braving the cold to find those quality clothing items her store sells.

"People are coming out,” she said.

Along with the usual pajamas and housecoats, mothers seemed to be shopping for their daughters, and many coming in were also picking up an item here or there for themselves.

Bamboo boxers have been a hit with the male population.

"I can't keep them on the shelf,” she said, noting once one pair has been worn she often sees customers return to buy more.

While Canadian Tire and many other shops in town were set to stay open today, the annual 12 Days of Christmas Market put on by local crafters and artisans at The Old Firehall downtown closed its doors for another year on Saturday.

The market features local work, and on Friday, Nola Pullar was seated at the front of the market with her sewing machine and her handbags on display.

The handbags are designed as little dresses, complete with tulle looking like many little girls' dream-tutus.

"I just love to sew,” Pullar said noting she has seen many customers state how cute they think the entirely hand-craft bags are.

Pullar noted she's been making the handbags for about six months. While she's been making an on-going stock for the market she noted she also takes custom orders and can have a bag done in about two hours.

The bags have been selling well, she said, adding that while the market was set to shut down Saturday, she'd be taking orders right up to Christmas Eve.

Like Pullar, local birch syrup producer Julie Frisch has been pleased to once again be part of the market.

"It's always busy in here,” she said, noting that by sharing the shifts to run the till at the market she essentially gets a retail space for a full 12 days in the lead-up to Christmas.

As she pointed out, many of the retailers in The Old Firehall were at the end of their stock for the Christmas season, indicating that sales are doing well this year.

In her own case, Frisch was thrilled when on of the headliners at the recent Grand Ole Northern Opry presentation came down to the market and purchased an entire case of her syrup to take home to California and give out as Christmas gifts.

Christmas shoppers will no doubt be out in full force today as they prepare for tomorrow's festivities. See related photo opposite.