Discover the heart and soul of Old Town Lafayette as we spotlight unique, local gems worth visiting this Small Business Saturday.

There’s a reason this is one of our favorite months of the year: We get to celebrate Small Business Saturday on November 25!

Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we all rally to support our favorite local shops. Think of it as the cozy, neighborhood-friendly answer to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday madness. We celebrate Small Business Saturday because our local businesses give so much character and soul to our community, and they deserve some extra love during the holiday shopping frenzy.

It’s all about keeping our money where our heart is—right here in our eclectic downtown.

The benefits of shopping locally go beyond just snagging that unique, handcrafted item. When you spend your dollars at Lafayette’s local businesses, your money stays right in the heart of our community. This domino effect means those local businesses often source from other local entrepreneurs, turning your purchase into a community-wide benefit. Plus, small businesses provide jobs and other opportunities, often with better perks and wages than larger chains. Let’s not forget their delightful array of one-of-a-kind products. From the quirky artisanal crafts to the tasty homemade treats, Old Town Lafayette is a shopping experience that big-box retailers just can’t replicate.

But the goodness doesn’t stop there! Our 80+ small businesses often sponsor and sell goods at local events, hosting community gatherings, donating to local causes, and helping us create a more eco-friendly impact. A walkable downtown reduces pollution and persuades you to take in more sights than you would from the driver or passenger seat of a car. The walls, windows, doors, and sidewalks of our small businesses are what allow us to have dozens of locally-painted murals lining our streets. Loving local enterprises spans beyond the shoppers; small businesses themselves know the importance of supporting one another and growing together within a community.

Here are a few ways you can support small in Old Town Lafayette for Small Business Saturday and the remainder of 2023:

1. Head over to our business directory and see the array of merchants we are grateful to have as part of our community. Old Town Lafayette has children’s attractions, pet-friendly bars, one-of-a-kind clothing retailers, delicious restaurants, cultural grocers, local art sellers, antique dealers, bakeries, coffee shops, bookstores, and so much more. You can find something that everyone in your family or friend group will love. They will each be sharing their holiday deals, events, and new arrivals on their websites and social media channels.

2. Take a peek at some of the backstories of our beloved merchants through our Storefront Stories series. Every small business owner has taken a unique journey to get where they are, and they were generous enough to share their stories with our community.

3. Create a list of holiday shopping ideas for everyone in your family and visit Old Town Lafayette on Small Business Saturday to see what you find. Even if you have that list in hand, we suggest you explore new places and see where you might get a rush of gift inspiration. Many of our merchants are family-owned and would love to help you pick the perfect gifts for your family.

4. Don’t go shopping on an empty stomach! Old Town Lafayette has 30 local restaurants, breweries, and grocery stores to choose from when you need a quick pick-me-up between stores.

The City of Lafayette is hosting their own exciting mix of 2023 Shop Small Saturday events. From now through November 12, you can register your Lafayette business to showcase your special shopper offerings for November 25 on the City of Lafayette website and social media channels. All you have to do is click this link, fill out the sections, and the official list will be shared to the Lafayette community on November 14. This is a completely free registration.

The Shop-N-Drop event at the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center on November 25 gives you the opportunity to explore and shop the best of Lafayette while your kids aged 5-12 enjoy supervised playtime. There will be activities, toys, crafts, and more! Follow this link to register and secure a spot so you can shop to your heart’s content knowing your children are having an equally fun time!

For the Lafayette locals, shopping small is a year-round activity. Many times, local shops rely on word of mouth and social media to get their word out. We ask that our community show their loyal support of Old Town Lafayette’s talented and hardworking small businesses by encouraging their family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors who live in Boulder County to take a trip to our unique streets and find handcrafted creations to bring smiles to their loved ones faces this holiday season.

If you want to keep up with what all of our small businesses are up to leading up to Small Business Saturday, follow Old Town Lafayette on Instagram and Facebook or visit our website. Not all heroes wear capes, but together we can celebrate the small business owners who bring a sense of community, loyalty, and uniqueness to Old Town Lafayette.