Today is Small Business Saturday, and local shops are hoping you spend your holiday shopping dollars with them, instead of big box retailers.

Local business owners are gearing up for what they hope is a successful Small Business Saturday.

It all comes at you so quickly: One minute, you’re making grocery lists and setting the menu for Thanksgiving, and then, in the blink of an eye, the holiday has arrived, only to be followed by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday -- and then your tree goes up and Christmas morning is here.

It won't be wet the entire time the rest of this holiday weekend

Downtown Roanoke is open for business, and business owners like Dev Oli are hoping you’ll shop small this Saturday.

Ten winners will be announced Dec. 1. You need to take a photo of your stamped card and upload it online.

Downtown Roanoke Inc. is making it easier than ever to shop for gifts this holiday season with their new gift guide. The Downtown Roanoke Holiday Gift Guide showcases local businesses and their products that would make great gifts this holiday season.

Local businesses across Southwest Virginia are getting ready for Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – After a challenging pandemic year, entrepreneurs are relying on Small Business Saturday to get them back on track. In downtown Blacksburg, a crowd decided to support local businesses Saturday by heading to the farmer’s market. That’s why Adam Bethany wanted to spend a few extra dollars on Small Business Saturday. “It’s nice to know that we can help even in a small way,” Bethany said. “For the business it’s huge but also personally it means a lot,” Macedo said.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – One business gearing up for Small Business Saturday just opened its doors on Black Friday. Ayven Avenue Boutique, a new shop that sells women’s clothing and accessories, is located on 5th Street in Downtown Lynchburg. “We really feel like small businesses need some support this year. So, we wanted to get down here and just be a part of the community and let everyone know that we’re here,” Howell said. The original boutique was located on Leesville Road but shut its doors after two years.

ROANOKE, Va. – More customers checking out the holiday deals this weekend is a sign of hope for small businesses on Saturday. Between sales signs and Park Roanoke waiving its fees for a couple of days, it’s all in an effort to gain more customers in downtown Roanoke for Small Business Saturday. ”That’s like small businesses’ big festival,” Oli said. “I love going from place to place to look at different stores,” Schwartz said. Some of these local stores are really important to Roanoke because they have such a great history.”You can also support local small businesses Saturday, Nov. 28, for Small Business Saturday.

All Good Things Christmas Market is an event where the kids are the vendors. Close to 40 kids ages 4 to 17 are working hard to get their products ready to sell at the Christmas market Saturday Nov. 28 at Mayhew Farm in Bedford. It’s free to get in, but they are taking donations for Food for Kids, a weekend food program for Bedford County kids in need. She started All Good Things Christmas Market in 2019 for kids to learn what it takes to run a business from start to finish, get their creative juices flowing and to see the importance of not just making money, but giving back. At All Good Things Christmas Market children ages 4-17 are the vendors.