Shop Local! Melrose's Black Friday Deals

Here it comes, the craziest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving, shoppers looking for the best deals of the holiday season line up before stores open, or head to stores that open after midnight, and fight their way through the crowds.

So Melrose Patch asked local businesses to share their deals with weekend to make it easier to find the deals you're looking for and support local businesses. Here's what they told us:

Stop in at this Main Street shop to browse a selection of makeup, skincare, fragrance, jewelry, accessories, hair care, home fragrance and bath and body care. Then take home a gift for yourself, too—with any purchase of $100 or more, get a free ultra-soft scarf to glam up any outfit, as well as a surprise gift ... pick a stocking and see what's inside!

This downtown consignment boutique is offering 25 percent off storewide on Black Friday with a monetary donation to Gathering Change Inc., which supports a Servant's Heart Food Pantry at Faith Evanglical Church and Pantry of Hope at First Baptist Church, among other food pantries in the area.

Beansprout Gifts

This new store at 12 Essex St., next to Beanstalk Toys, will offer on Friday and Saturday only a sale on all Tea Collection clothing—20 percent off this season's line, sizes infant to 4T.

Fit Lifestyle Studios is offering a free holiday challenge to help people maintain their weight, improve their fitness and overall lifestyle during the toughest time of the year.

The challenge begins the day before Thanksgiving and ends the day after New Years.

The Studios are also offering 10 percent off gift certificates and 15 percent off all products with any service purchase.

Maple Street Creations

This entire weekend, Ellie Rush's store will run this special: Spend $20 and get a free $5 bottle of bubble bath. Also, spend $50 and get a free candle while supplies last. Maple Street Soap Creations, located on Maple Street in Melrose, has been in business selling handmade soaps and candles for 11 years. You can order "specials" online as well. Delivery is free in Melrose, or items can be picked up at Rush's home.

This Melrose-based cruise travel agency is offering a Spending Reimburstment Program: book by Nov. 30 any vacation for travel between now and December 2012, and Cruise One will pay you back after your vacation up to $200. This offer is valid for new booking only and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises are excluded from this program.

Melrose Dance Dynamix is offering a "Take Off the Turkey" exercise extravaganza this week each each day from Wed, Nov. 23 through Saturday, Nov. 27. There will be Zumba and Strength and Stretch classes at the  studio—even the day of Thanksgiving. The schedule of classes:

• Wednesday: Zumba 5-6 p.m., Strength and Stretch 6-7 p.m.
• Thursday: Zumba 8-9 a.m., Strength and Stretch 9-10 a.m. 
• Friday: Zumba 8:30-9:30 a.m.   
• Saturday: Zumba Class 9-9:50 a.m.

Burn off the turkey and get the family out of the house at the Stone Zoo or Franklin Park. Each zoo will offer half-price admission on Black Friday. (At Stone Zoo, admission is usually $13 for adults, $11 for seniors over 62 and $9 for children ages 2-12.) Stone Zoo will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Bee is offering on Black Friday 10 percent off a sandwich when you mention 'Melrose Patch'. "Got an early start shopping? Come to the Busy Bee for lunch. We will be having a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich as a special that day—complete with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce—just in case you didn't get any leftovers!"