When to shop, what’s on sale

The following are examples of popular items and holiday sales at retail stores in the Bangor area:

Bangor Mall – Opens at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Stores will have featured sale items and some will offer shoppers additional gifts. Hot items this year include Elmo Live, GPS navigation systems and embellished back-pocket jeans, according to mall officials. 947-7333

Staples – Black Friday sales include GPS navigational systems, Motorola Bluetooth headsets, digital frames and digital cameras. Also, 10,000 Staples customers nationwide will win their purchase for free. 947-9225.

Downtown Bangor

Maine Discovery Museum – 30 percent off books and educational toys for sale at Too Much Fun, the museum store. Lower member prices until Nov. 30, and the new Snow Days exhibit opens Nov 28. 262-7200.

American Retro – The resale shop will offer new designer-style purses and jewelry for the holidays and gifts under $10 and $20. 941-9535.

Grasshopper Shop – All toys, including hot item “Ugly Dolls,” are 25 percent off until Thanksgiving. Popular items upstairs include Trollbeads, a Scandinavian charm bracelet, and designer Mario Batali lined lunch totes. 945-3132.

Giacomo’s Groceria – Holiday wine and cheese tasting 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and an open house with gingerbread men during the Dec. 6 holiday parade. Hot gift items this year include gourmet food gift baskets, caf? cards, specialty chocolates and Italian fruitcakes. 947-3702.

Epic Sports – Early bird sale with 25 percent off storewide 6 a.m.-noon on Black Friday. 941-5670.

Briar Patch – 20 percent off everything in store in November. Autographed children’s books, special holiday books and Playmobil toys and Advent calendars. 941-0255.

Bangor Wine and Cheese – Sale wine and beers, Maine treats. Hot holiday items will include Christmas beer selection, chocolates with Maine berries and sea salt from Waldoboro confectioner Safe Harbor, Shipwreck Coffee of Veazie. 942-3338.

Rebecca’s – Hot items include artwork from Maine artist Collette King, Fernwood replicas of local buildings and a red Australian Grenache wine. 945-3588.

Country Hearts – Holiday open house Nov. 28-30, with sales on Yankee Candles, Webkinz and Willow Tree Nativities. 262-4322.