Major retailers get much of the attention on Black Friday, but the holiday shopping season鈥檚 second day is all about smaller businesses.
Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday.
American Express launched the event during the 2010 recession, encouraging holiday shoppers to support the small, independent businesses that are so essential in every community.
The event gained momentum a year later when Congress unanimously passed a resolution supporting the event. Elected leaders also joined forces with trade groups, communities, business associations and others to form the Small Business Saturday Coalition. It鈥檚 since become a holiday tradition.
Here is a guide to help you 鈥渟hop small鈥� this holiday season.
DC
, which has a number of locations around the area, will open a gift box pop-up shop in Georgetown, at 2920 M St. NW, throughout December. Shoppers can buy signature boxes 鈥渇illed with goods from makers all over the DMV,鈥� or shop 鈥渁 la carte,鈥� according to Stacy Price, co-founder and CEO.
Shop Made in D.C. 鈥� which also has a storefront at 1304 Wisconsin Ave. NW 鈥� works with hundreds of merchants around the region. It鈥檚 expanding soon with locations in Maryland and Virginia as well.
鈥淪upporting local business is imperative to keeping business alive,鈥� Price said. 鈥淲hat I feel so proud of is that when you support our businesses, you’re not only supporting a locally-owned business, but you’re supporting a locally-owned business that supports close to 1,000 other businesses.鈥�
Restaurants and other shops in Georgetown will mark Small Business Saturday with some special promotions. Find more information on .
Another good online resource for finding D.C. merchants is the Shop in the District website. It features that allows shoppers to filter by neighborhood and other categories, such as 鈥渆co-friendly鈥� and 鈥淟GBTQ-owned.鈥�
In Southeast, a pop-up market featuring local Black-owned businesses is set for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at St. Thomas More Catholic School, 4265 Fourth St. SE. Merchants can reserve a free spot at the market by visiting .
The 18th annual Downtown Holiday Market runs through Dec. 23 on two blocks of F Street Northwest between Seventh and Ninth streets. (The market is closed Dec. 5.) The market will feature dozens of small businesses and entrepreneurs from across the region. See a full rundown of exhibitors on .
鈥淗olly Days鈥� returns to D.C.鈥檚 Eastern Market for a sixth year starting Saturday. It will feature 鈥渦nique gifts from around the world sold by local small businesses,鈥� both indoors and outdoors. And on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., shoppers can see the lighting of the Capitol Hill Christmas tree at Eastern Market Metro Park.
See a rundown of hours on the , and check out a full list of Eastern Market businesses on the .
Participating businesses in the Barracks Row neighborhood will offer discounts and other specials on Saturday, and some will extend throughout the holiday season. In addition, shoppers who buy from a participating Barracks Row business will get a $5 gift card to use at another local business from Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 27.
Find more information on .
And in D.C.鈥檚 Shaw neighborhood, Shaw Main Streets is again marking Small Business Saturday with the fifth-annual City Market at O Holiday Celebration, near the intersection of O and Eighth streets Northwest from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Shoppers can enjoy free candy, cookies and hot apple cider.
Shoppers can also get a little help before they tackle that shopping list. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Shaw Main Streets tent at City Market at O, they can pick up $20 in 鈥淪hawbucks鈥� that can be used as cash at any participating businesses that day only. See a list of participating retailers on the .
Virginia
Dozens of merchants in Alexandria will mark Small Business Saturday with discounts, free snacks and free gifts with purchases.
A number of pop-up markets will be open as well, including at on Saturday and . Friday and Saturday. (An outdoor market will be held near the intersection of King and Strand streets.)
Shoppers are also encouraged to on Small Business Saturday as well as
Find more information on .
Shoppers who couldn鈥檛 find the perfect gift on Saturday can check out The National Women鈥檚 History Museum and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum are among several in the city (and region) that will take part. Find an interactive map of participating museums on .
In Fairfax City, shoppers can take part in the city鈥檚 fourth annual Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt through Dec. 5. It begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at 10415 North St. Twenty-five elves will be hidden inside participating businesses. Shoppers who locate five of them and make at least one purchase at a participating business can enter a raffle for a $50 gift card.
Learn more about the scavenger hunt and download a 鈥減assport鈥� on the .
In Loudoun County, in Bluemont will hold an 聽Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
And one week later on Dec. 3, in Purcellville will host a holiday market from noon to 5 p.m. It will feature 鈥渁 variety of unique vendors selling pottery, candles, jewelry, decor, lotions, soaps, jellies, and more.鈥�
Maryland
featuring 鈥渦nique and handmade gift items from local artisans鈥� is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Silver Spring along Ellsworth Drive, between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street.
Then, on the following Sunday, Dec. 4, shoppers can check out the 聽at Veterans Plaza from noon to 4 p.m. There will be 鈥渙ver 80 artisans, crafters 鈥� and other local small businesses.鈥�
Farmers markets are a good option for finding something made by a small business. And in Montgomery County, shoppers can celebrate Small Business Saturday by checking out the vendors at the market at Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring. It鈥檚 open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. .
Another farmers market in Montgomery County is at 聽Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shoppers who need to pick up produce Saturday can also find potential gifts, such as olive oil, tea, cheese and baked goods.
And in Gaithersburg鈥檚 Kentlands neighborhood, shoppers can find a number of delicious gift options during the 鈥� including spirits, juices and coffees 鈥� from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ellicott City is bringing back its 鈥淥EC Bucks鈥� promotion this year. Each is worth $10, and they鈥檒l be available starting at 10 a.m. during a kick-off event at the Welcome Center. All Old Ellicott City merchants will accept OEC Bucks through Dec. 31.
In Prince George鈥檚 County, the city of Laurel has . Shoppers can pick up a passport from the Municipal Center, collect six stamps from six different participating businesses and be eligible to win a prize basket. Passports need to be returned by Monday at 4 p.m. A drawing will be held the following Thursday.
In addition, shoppers can enjoy coffee and doughnuts from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at 378 Main St.
Several businesses in Hyattsville will offer . And through Dec. 31, parking will be free in city lots.
Hyattsville shoppers can also take part in a scavenger hunt from Saturday through Dec. 16. Shoppers who get 10 stamps and return their passport can enter a raffle for 鈥渁 gift basket of goodies鈥� from local businesses.
Robin Hill brewery in Prince George鈥檚 County听飞颈濒濒 . (Shoppers also have the option to pick up a bottle of wine for that special someone.)
Find a directory of small businesses in Prince George鈥檚 County .
