MOUNT VERNON — It’s time to celebrate small businesses this Saturday.
Experience Mount Vernon and Downtown Merchants are hosting Shop Small Saturday on Nov. 30.
Shop Small Saturday, a national initiative launched by American Express, encourages people to shop locally, especially after Black Friday.
In Mount Vernon, the event operates as a decentralized effort to promote shopping small during the holidays, explained Experience Mount Vernon director Lacey Filkins.
Filkins noted that businesses handle their own discounts and specials, as there are no coordinated activities like traditional shop hops.
In 2023, the reported projected spending in the U.S. from those who shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday was around $17 billion, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Also, since 2010, the total reported U.S. spending at small businesses during the annual Small Business Saturday is an estimated $201 billion.
Additionally, DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) hours run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
During these hours, patrons can purchase beer or wine from approved downtown bars or restaurants.
These drinks, served in DORA cups, allow customers to stroll through downtown within the designated boundaries, Filkins said.