How To Celebrate Small Business Saturday in Salem, MA?  

Looking to shop locally this holiday season? Small businesses in your community appreciate this, and to celebrate the Commonwealth annually promotes Small Business Saturday. This November 30th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, support the small businesses in your community by shopping, purchasing and telling your friends about the amazing service and products you found. 

What Is Small Business Saturday? 

At a time during the year when businesses are hoping to attract customers to do their holiday shopping, many find that the ease of big box stores or online shopping lures customers away. That’s where Small Business Saturday comes into play. 

Small Business Saturday is a national marketing initiative created and promoted by American Express (first observed in 2010) to encourage holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States. 

Shop Small, Make Big Impact 

By shopping small, your purchase can make a huge difference for small business owners. Salem Chamber of Commerce and Salem Main Streets are once again promoting this initiative this year. 

Small businesses throughout Salem, Massachusetts will be featuring special events, discounts, and sales on Saturday, November 30, 2024, to recognize this day. 

Restaurants, shops, museums, and small retailers host special events hoping to gain customers and keep them throughout the year. This holiday is reported to have helped generate over $200 billion in sales since its inception.

Salem, Massachusetts, known for its Haunted Happenings events in October, knows how to roll out the red carpet to visitors and does an equally great job during the holiday season. Here are a few events and shops to consider as you stroll the streets of Salem for this Shop Small event! 

Artist Market 

The Salem Arts Association is hosting the Holiday Artists’ Market at Salem Old Town Hall promising a festive atmosphere, live music and a seasonal theme. The artist’s market is being held on November 30, from 11 am to 5 pm and will offer handmade holiday treasures for that hard-to-buy person on your list. 

A Christmas Carol Trolley Tour 

Book your tickets now for the Salem Trolley & The Gallows Hill Theatre presentation of The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 

In its 38th season, the Salem Trolley and Gallows Hill Theater presents a humorous and whimsical interactive performance of this holiday classic. Ride along with Scrooge himself on the Salem Trolley as the classic tale is brought to life in a completely unexpected way. Shows sell out quickly and seats are limited. 

Christmas in Salem Holiday House Tours

Salem has a rich history and homes that date back hundreds of years. The uniqueness of these homes helps define the character as well as the appearance of the city. Learn about this robust history of Salem as you take a home tour through Christmas in Salem. 

Join us this year as owners invite visitors to view their homes decked out in full holiday regalia, with the help of professional decorators and florists. Christmas in Salem features a glimpse into these private homes that have been decorated for the holiday season as well as a series of special events such as walking tours and wine tastings that are exclusive to Christmas in Salem ticket holders. Book your tickets now. 

This year’s dates include: 

• Saturday, December 7th, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 8th, 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, December 6th – Special Preview Tour – Requires Purchase of a Separate Ticket

For a complete list of events and activities throughout Salem this holiday season and how you can support small businesses, visit Salem Main Streets Holiday Happenings. You may also want to visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce to view the list of businesses taking part in Shop Small this year.