The holidays are often an exciting time of the year.  However, holiday expenses, planning holiday meals, and ever-changing family dynamics can make the season stressful.  To assist individuals in understanding and responding to holiday stress, the Quicksand Area (Breathitt, Lee, Wolfe, Knott, Letcher, Leslie, and Perry counties) Family and Consumer Science Agents hosted the Holiday Road Show: Family Traditions Across the Life Span program. Emphasis was placed on maintaining family traditions and lowering financial stress that often occurs during the holiday season.  Each agent demonstrated budget-friendly gifts and decorations for the holidays as well as recipe ideas.  

      Evaluation data indicated that one-hundred and twenty (120) consumers participated in the program, either in person or by “grab n go” bag.  As a result of this program, $4,121.00 was expected to be saved.  Five hundred and sixty-three (563) Holiday Road Show information booklets were distributed.  One hundred and thirteen (113) participants made a positive financial decision.  One hundred and ten (110) participants intended to implement one or more money-saving/money-making strategies.  Four hundred and eighty-two (482) participants either made or anticipated making the budget-friendly craft items from the Holiday Road Show booklet.  Almost five hundred (499) either made the recipes provided in the Holiday Road Show booklet or intended on making them.  When asked on a survey, “As a result of this program, I will maintain or work to create new family traditions,” one hundred and one (101) people said, "Yes."  Likewise, when asked, “I will encourage my family to participate in family traditions,” one hundred and fourteen (114) people responded with, “Yes.”  And finally, when asked, “As a result of this program, I know the characteristics that make families strong,” one hundred and nine (109) people said, “yes.” 

 The 2021 holiday season brought with it much stress for families.  The Holiday Roadshow:  Family Traditions Across the Life Span program  was a way to help reduce financial, mental, and family stress for clients all across the Quicksand Area