A small business storefront in Deep River.
Winter CaplansonSaturday, Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday across the United States. On this day, shoppers nationwide are encourage to shop small at locally owned businesses — with many of these businesses running deals to celebrate.
Towns throughout Connecticut are having special markets or pop-up shops to celebrate the over 350,000 small businesses and employees throughout the Nutmeg State.
Here are eight places to shop local this Small Business Saturday.
This Small Business Saturday, Wild Earth Studio in Salem is putting on a makers market full of artisanal goods, crafts, jewelry, pottery, decor, candles, soaps and more. Santa will also be arriving for a special visit. The makers market will be at Burnett’s Country Gardens from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Pratt Street in Hartford.
Pratt Street in Hartford is having its own Small Business Saturday celebration, having a variety of stores hosting deals to encourage shoppers to buy local. The event will also include holiday celebrations with music, food and drink.
There will be a pop-up shop on Pratt Street with vendors such as Block 21 Prints, Just Clay by Christiane, Mindbrakes, Mountain Tree Studios and more.
In addition, businesses located on Pratt Street like Bloom Bake Shop and Morneault’s Stackpole Moore Tryon are having deals for Small Business Saturday.
The event will be from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Spruce Street farmers market is hosting a “Shop Small Saturday Indoor Market” to celebrate small businesses and makers. The event is giving customers a chance to shop small and 25 local farms, prepared food vendors, artisans and more. The market will run from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 160 Spruce Street, inside the former Nathan Hale school.
The Shops at Yale is celebrating Small Business Saturday with a holiday-themed small business pop up event. The event is in partnership with Market New Haven and Town Green Special Services District and will feature free indoor craft activities for children, free hot apple cider, free popcorn, giveaways, an ice carving demonstration, Yuletide Carolers, free tote bags for the first 250 people and more. The pop-up will run from noon- 4 p.m. at 1042 Chapel Street, next to Union League Café.
D'n'A Art and Event Studio is hosting local small businesses, artisans, and vendors at its Fall Pop-up shop. Those interested can come and shop the variety of local vendors and receive a raffle ticket to win free event space for the winner’s next party. The event will take place on Small Business Saturday — Nov. 26 — and will run from noon - 4 p.m.
The annual Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Shop Local Community Bazaar will take place on Small Business Saturday at the Holiday Inn at 10 Laura Boulevard. Shoppers will have the chance to peruse all locally made items at the bazaar and the event will run from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Eco-friendly store Cinder + Salt is hosting a Small Business Saturday event outside of its doors at 195 Main Street from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.The event will have items from local makers as well as holiday music and hot cocoa. To thank customers for shopping small, there will be giveaways with these purchases: a free Cinder + Salt Sharpie with every purchase, free limited edition tote bag with $75 purchase and free limited edition blanket with $150 purchase.
While Bethel's WinterFest is on the Friday before Small Business Saturday (Nov. 25), it is Bethel's way of encouraging patrons to shop small and shop local.
The event will be in downtown Bethel from 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. and include live music, a pet photobooth, trolley and horse wagon rides, crafts and more. There will also be hot cocoa and s'mores.
To celebrate the upcoming holidays, there will also be a tree lighting ceremony and a Santa visit.