Santa Claus Is Comin’ to A-Town: Small Business Saturday

A booth at a past Austin Creative Reuse Holiday Market (courtesy of Austin Creative Reuse)

Black Friday frenzy is upon us, but this is your reminder that there’s another way to give this holiday season and it is to. Shop. Local.

That’s right, Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25, does indeed still chase all that quasi-shameful Black Friday spending, and this year’s is loaded. From artist pop-ups at Austin Creative Reuse’s Holiday Market, Nov. 25-26, to the Texas Craft Brewers Guild’s annual glass hunt, Nov. 25, there’s ample opportunity to find that thoughtful (and aspirationally unique) present while doing a little good for the community and celebrating Austin. (Find more markets in our Holiday Events calendar.)

If you’re still trying to figure out where all the small businesses went (sorry, are), the city’s merchant groups have handy dandy directories, including the Austin Local Business Alliance, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, and the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Want to hit multiple birds with one stone? Hop on over to one of the city’s designated Souly districts (East Cesar Chavez, North Lamar, South Congress, Red River, and 12th Street) and have a look for yourself – there’s plenty to peruse.

And should the Spirit of Giving continue to inhabit your body after the week’s festivities, consider an altruistic palate cleanse and donate locally this GivingTuesday, Nov. 28. It’ll be the best money you spend all week.

Need more local business inspo? Check out the Chronicle’s Gift Pages, an advertiser section, here.

Looking to help out local nonprofits? Check out Wish List, Chronicle’s annual guide to charitable giving.