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MARIETTA — As holiday shopping picks up across the Mid-Ohio Valley, several local businesses and venues are offering gift options ranging from plants and garden tools to theater outings and riverboat cruises.

Thomson’s Landscaping, located at 26130 State Route 7 in Marietta, continues to offer weekly specials on its website along with an online shop featuring trees, flowers, cacti and shrubs. Orders can be placed online for pickup, and the site includes care guides covering planting, lawn maintenance and shrub care. The company notes on its website that it began as a small family business in 1979 and has grown into a full-service garden center and landscape design company serving both Ohio and West Virginia.

Bob’s Market and Greenhouses Inc., which has locations in Belpre, Gallipolis, Mason, W.Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa., offers gift cards starting at $25. Its website, bobsmarket.com, includes a large section of how-to articles for gardeners of all experience levels, along with Bob’s Blog and “Uncle Jim’s Almanac,” which provide seasonal planting advice. The company also posts weekly recipes using home-grown produce, offering ideas for salads, soups and stir-fries.

For those leaning toward experience-based presents, Peoples Bank Theatre in downtown Marietta is offering holiday programming and gift cards that can be used year-round. Holiday events include “The Polar Express” on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m., “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., and “Frozen” on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.

The Valley Gem Sternwheeler and the Major/Riviera are also offering a variety of seasonal cruises on the Ohio River. The sternwheeler business traces its history to 1973, when Captain James “Jim” Sands launched the first Valley Gem. The Sands family continues to operate the vessels today with public and private tours, theme cruises and dinner events.

Holiday offerings this season include a Classic Claymation Christmas luncheon cruise on Dec. 14 from 1-3 p.m., a Christmas Princess Tea on Dec. 13 from 1-3 p.m., a Mistletoe Masquerade cruise on Dec. 27 from 6-8 p.m., a Country Christmas cruise on Dec. 19 from 6-9 p.m., Christmas on Broadway dinner cruises on Nov. 29 and Dec. 5 and 6, Holiday Trivia Night on Dec. 11 from 6-8 p.m., and a New Year’s Eve cruise from 8 p.m. to midnight. Gift cards and private event bookings are also available.

Whether choosing a plant, a gardening gift card or a holiday outing, shoppers have several ways to support local businesses while sharing a seasonal experience with family and friends.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com