‘Small Business Saturday’ events planned across Happy Valley for holiday shopping
The days after Thanksgiving are known to kick off the holiday shopping season. For those looking to keep their hard-earned money local, Small Business Saturday is a shopping day to participate in.
Small Business Saturday is a marketing initiative started by American Express in 2010 to encourage people to shop in small, local businesses. It will take place again this year, and there are some special things planned for it on Saturday in Centre County.
Not only are some local businesses banning together for an event like Bellefonte’s Shop Small Crawl, some towns like Milesburg will have a day full of festivities for people to check out in between shopping stops.
Read below to learn more about what is planned for Shop Small Saturday across Centre County. If you see something we missed, send it to hkines@centredaily.com.
State College
Beginning this week, free holiday parking goes into effect. From Wednesday until Dec. 21, shoppers in downtown State College can enjoy free two-hour parking at the Pugh, Fraser and Beaver garages, and free meters, lots and parking at the McAllister Parking Deck from 5-10 p.m.
Unlimited parking in garages, meters, lots and the McAllister Parking Deck will be available on Thursday, and then from Dec. 22 through Jan. 4.
Free CATA bus tokens are also available at the Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) office, 127 S. Fraser St., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from now until Dec. 24. There is a limit of one token per person, per day.
To bring a little extra Happy Valley cheer to your Christmas tree, the DSCID is launching its fifth collectible Happy Valley holiday ornament, which features The State Theatre. The limited edition ornament is $14.95 and is available at the following businesses in downtown State College: Balfurd Cleaners, Blue Brick Theatre, Cafe Alina, Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop, Federal Taphouse State College, Gemellis Bakers, Growing Tree Toys, Happy Valley Optical, Inc., Hawaiian Yummy Bowl, Kitchen Kaboodle, Lion & Cub, Lions Pride, McLanahan’s Student Store, The Makery Market, The Nittany Quill, Penn Steaks, The Squirrel and Acorn Bookshop, The State Theatre, Student Book Store, The Family Clothesline, Town, Pride State College and Your Cigar Den.
“Sponsored by the Improvement District, the ornaments are provided to local merchants at no cost, offering them an added source of holiday revenue and encouraging the community to shop early and shop local this season,” the DSCID wrote on its event page.
The DSCID will be at the Corner Room from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday with a spinning prize wheel and hundreds of dollars in downtown gift cards to give away.
Bellefonte
Bellefonte’s “shop small crawl” will return for another year on Saturday. Tote bags designed by local artist Natalie Burkey will be given away to the first 150 attendees starting at 10 a.m. at Monarch Salon, 114 S. Spring St., Bellefonte. Bags are limited to one per customer, and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
A number of small businesses will participate in this year’s crawl and each business has a small surprise planned.
Participating businesses:
- Astrid Glo Beauty
- Belle Mercantile
- Bellefonte Art Museum
- Bonfattos Italian Market and Corner Cafe
- Bellefonte Brick Studio
- Dancing Tiger - Movement and Meditation
- Daydream Ink Lounge
- Earth and Bone Tattoo
- Elisabeth Joseph Jewelers
- Every Season Home and Living
- Fez Records
- Felicity’s Pet Supplies
- Governors Pub
- Helen Foxx and Co
- Hobby Hour
- Jabebo
- Mae Belle Beauty
- The Great Mish Mosh
- Monarch Salon and Boutique
- Plaza Centre
- Shaky Hands Coffee Shop
- Smith and Front
- Titan Market
- State Burger Co.
Santa will be in town at the diamond in front of the Centre County Courthouse from 1-4 p.m.
Then, from 6-8 p.m. a community tree lighting at the gazebo in Talleyrand Park is planned. Bellefonte Mayor Buddy Johnson will give a welcome, followed by music from the Bellefonte Area Band ensemble and a carol singalong — plus a reading of The Night Before Christmas. Mulled cider, hot chocolate and cookies will be provided. There will be a tree decoration station as well.
Milesburg
Milesburg’s “Home for the Holidays” (previously the Hometown Christmas) will have several vendors, artisans and food trucks at the community center and on Market Street from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday. The Milesburg United Methodist Church will have a holiday craft sale, free refreshments and a Christmas decoration yard sale. They’ll also be collecting donations of hats, mittens, scarves and blankets for Out of the Cold.
Santa has a full schedule in Milesburg, starting at the post office from 11 a.m. until noon. From there, enjoy cookies with Santa at the community center from 12:15 p.m. until 1:15 p.m., or watch for him in a parade from the post office to the Milesburg Museum from 1:25 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. Get your photos taken with Santa in his sleigh at the museum from 2-3 p.m., or do crafts with him at the Citizen’s Hook and Ladder firehall from 3-4 p.m.
Several businesses and organizations will participate with activities at each place, including:
- Milesburg Community Center: shopping, cookies with Santa, free raffles, donation collection boxes for socks and cat food
- Valley Ace Hardware: shopping, free raffle, donation collection box for Toys for Tots
- Milesburg Museum: baking contest, recipe collection for the Milesburg Cookbook, pictures with Santa, tours, free wassail and cookies
- Fisher’s Market: fresh cut trees and wreaths for sale, free coffee, donation collection for a tree for a local family
- Milesburg Presbyterian Church: Santa’s workshop with face painting, low-cost shopping for children and live pine swag making. Donation collection for the food bank
- Miller’s Hoagies: hoagies, free raffle, donation collection (pay it forward food purchase)
- Citizen’s Hook and Ladder No. 1: craft making for kids, pony rides, holiday movies, Santa visits, tree lighting and carolling at 6 p.m.
- Milesburg United Methodist Church: holiday crafts and yard sale, donation collection for blankets, hats, gloves and scarves
- The Crooked House: letters to Santa and s’mores
- Eagle Valley Personal Care: visits and holiday storytime
- Market Street: food trucks, raffles, music, photos, Santa parade
- Milesburg Post Office: visit with Santa from 11 a.m. until noon, then a parade with Santa down Market Street at 1:25 p.m.
