A Miracle on State Street: Shop Small Saturday 2024

Erie Downtown Partnership

Small businesses in Downtown Erie, the concourse at the Boston Store, and Perry Square will be a bustling celebration of the power of shopping small. The day after Black Friday is known as Small Business Saturday and the folks at Erie Downtown Partnership are planning on making it easy and fun to shop small.

SATURDAY, NOV. 30

Each year, the Saturday following Thanksgiving and Black Friday is dubbed Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate and support the small businesses in the community. This year, the Erie Downtown Partnership (EDP) is taking the event to a new level.

Partnering with the Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC), Copper Carriage, and Pointe Foure Vintage, EDP's day of shopping is rebranding as "Miracle on State Street: A Shop Small Saturday in Downtown Erie." New this year is the launch of a window-decorating contest for businesses, sponsored by the EDP.

Businesses can apply to EDP to receive a stipend of $200 to put toward the beautification and decoration of their storefront windows prior to Shop Small Saturday. The public will be able to vote for their favorite storefront decorations from that day (Saturday, Nov. 30) until the Erie Art Museum's Gallery Night two weeks later (Friday, Dec. 13). The winner of the contest will be announced the following week.

A plethora of local vendors will be featured in spaces including the Boston Store concourse, 1020 Collective, the Erie Art Museum, City Gallery, FEED Media Arts Center, and more. Brick-and-mortar businesses will also participate, with a full rundown of all locations included on the Shop Small map available on the day of the event.

Entertainment, food, beverages, and activities will be available in each main vendor location, and the Flagship City Food Hall will offer a free gift-wrapping station.

"Very few of our events touch every corner of downtown, but this one gets people walking and exploring from the bayfront all the way up to the tracks," said Dave Tamulonis, events and marketing manager for EDP. "I think walking is the best way to experience your environment and interact with your city and the people who live there."

Nostalgia is a huge motivator for the event as well. "It's awesome to see people do their holiday shopping downtown again," said Tamulonis. "I know a lot of people are nostalgic for the Boston Store's participation and enjoy shopping for their gifts like they did when they were younger."

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. // Various locations throughout Downtown Erie // Free // For more information, visit: eriedowntown.com