Traditionally, the yearly Early Bird shopping event has always taken place the Saturday before Thanksgiving. With that holiday coming later than usual in 2013, so did Early Bird.

Boothbay region merchants are now wondering if a change to the date would benefit themselves and Early Bird shoppers alike.

We want to hear from you about your preference, be it as a business, a shopper, or both.

Is a change of Early Bird timing to earlier in November likely to increase or decrease your business or ability to attend Early Bird?

Would there be a benefit if Early Bird occurred the weekend before Black Friday?

Moving the date will put Boothbay Harbor in competition with another town:

• First Saturday in November (first day of hunting season): Bath and Damariscotta
• Second Saturday in November: Wiscasset
• Third Saturday in November: Brunswick (minimal competition because of distance)
• Saturday before Thanksgiving: Boothbay (normally the third Saturday in November)

The Boothbay Register supports Early Bird advertisers in each of the towns in our circulation area, including those in Bath, Damariscotta, Wiscasset and Boothbay. We will support the Boothbay region merchants and their decision, but feel that it would be inappropriate for us to influence any date change.

Finally, that old axiom comes to mind: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But, we feel you are better positioned than we to judge the best timing for Early Bird 2014, so please let us hear from you. We'll tally the votes and report back.

Respond via the comments section below or email news@boothbayregister.com.