Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

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We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.

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Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

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Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.

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Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

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Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!

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People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

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Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

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Three Main Street America Staff members standing in front of a mural in Marion, Iowa.

Marion, Iowa © Tasha Sams

About

We work in collaboration with thousands of local partners and grassroots leaders across the nation who share our commitment to advancing shared prosperity, creating resilient economies, and improving quality of life.

Overview Who We Are How We Work Partner Collaborations Our Supporters Our Team Job Opportunities Contact Us
Two community members in Emporia Kansas pose with a sign saying "I'm a Main Streeter"

Emporia, Kansas © Emporia Main Street

Our Network

Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, the thousands of organizations, individuals, volunteers, and local leaders that make up Main Street America™ represent the broad diversity that makes this country so unique.

Overview Coordinating Programs Main Street Communities Collective Impact Awards & Recognition Community Evaluation Framework Join the Movement
Dionne Baux and MSA partner working in Bronzeville, Chicago.

Chicago, Illinois © Main Street America

Resources

Looking for strategies and tools to support you in your work? Delve into the Main Street Resource Center and explore a wide range of resources including our extensive Knowledge Hub, professional development opportunities, field service offerings, advocacy support, and more!

Overview Knowledge Hub Field Services Government Relations Main Street Now Conference Main Street America Institute Small Business Support Allied Member Services The Point Members Area
People riding e-scooters in Waterloo, Iowa

Waterloo, Iowa © Main Street Waterloo

The Latest

Your one-stop-shop for all the latest stories, news, events, and opportunities – including grants and funding programs – across Main Street.

Overview News & Stories Events & Opportunities Subscribe
Woman and girl at a festival booth in Kendall Whittier, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kendall Whittier — Tulsa, Oklahoma © Kendall Whittier Main Street

Get Involved

Join us in our work to advance shared prosperity, create strong economies, and improve quality of life in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Overview Join Us Renew Your Membership Donate Partner With Us Job Opportunities
Oceanside residents lined the street at the Merry Makers Fair, a free, two-day holiday pop-up market, in 2019. Credit: Road West Photography

Small Business Saturday® is just around the corner, and Neighborhood Champions across the country are gearing up to rally their communities around the small businesses at the heart of their downtowns. As many commercial districts continue to feel the impact of COVID-19, Main Street programs have pivoted their traditional Small Business Saturday plans or started new traditions to accommodate health and safety guidelines. Keep reading to learn more about how communities are celebrating Small Business Saturday this year and get tips and tricks for making yours a success. As you develop your plans, be sure to create a plan that authentically celebrates your local community and complies with local laws and regulations.

Celebrate the Shop Small® movement all holiday season long

Keep the small business momentum going throughout the holiday season! Be sure to provide downtown shoppers with the chance to sign up to be on your mailing list so that you can engage with these community members and make them downtown customers throughout the holiday season and all-year round. Ask businesses to offer coupons or other incentives to encourage customers to return after Small Business Saturday ends.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group in Mount Vernon, Iowa is spreading out their Shop Small efforts by hosting two events over two weekends: one on Nov. 6 and one on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 27). On both days, the Main Street organization will set up a booth on Main Street and ask every downtown shopper to fill in a form with their name and phone number and drop it into a fishbowl. Every hour on the hour, volunteers randomly select a form from the fishbowl and call the participant. If they can get back to the booth in 10 minutes, they win a $25 Community Cash gift certificate (good only in Mount Vernon and Lisbon) to encourage them to shop downtown all season long.

Pivoting traditional plans can lead to long-term success

Downtown shoppers take in ice sculptures during Small Business Saturday in Downtown Berlin, MD last year. Photo credit: Alyssa Maloof Photography.

In 2020, Berlin Main Street in Berlin, Maryland launched a new Small Business Saturday event to bring shoppers downtown while maintaining social distancing. During their ice sculpture event, Ice Ice Berlin, businesses sponsored ice sculptures that were placed outside of each business. The sculptures remained downtown throughout Small Business Saturday, and businesses set out racks and tables outside to encourage outdoor shopping. Ice Ice Berlin was such a success that it will return this year, along with free carriage rides and free grab-n-go art projects for kids. A Merry Marketplace will feature local artists and food cultivators set up around town, and free parking will sweeten the deal.

Take your Small Business Saturday contests to the next level

From filling out a shopping passport or bingo card to small business giveaways, there are plenty of ways to make Small Business Saturday fun and interactive. Main Street Oceanside in Oceanside, California is planning to launch a scavenger hunt called Oceanside Holiday Challenge. Merchants will create a mission for community members to complete starting on Small Business Saturday through December 12. No purchase required. After completing five missions, participants will be given an entry for a chance to win prizes from local businesses.

Tie Small Business Saturday to other community events

Small Business Saturday provides a great opportunity for Main Streets to tie in holiday shopping to other festive community events. Downtown Lee’s Summit in Lee’s Summit, Missouri hosted their annual farmers market holiday mart on Small Business Saturday for the first time last year. It was such a great success that they’re planning to bring back the holiday mart in one of their downtown alleys on Small Business Saturday to help build on the excitement of supporting local.

Get social

Runners pose for a picture after completing the Run with Rudolph Virtual 5K in 2020. Photo courtesy Main Street Mason City.

Along with encouraging downtown shoppers to post about their experience on social media, Main Street organizations are taking to their own social accounts in creative ways to encourage their community to Shop Small. In 2020, Main Street Mason City (MSMC) in Mason City, Iowa pivoted their Annual Run with Rudolph 5K to a virtual 5K Run/ Walk. They encouraged participants to post photos of their race on social to make runners/walkers feel more connected during the virtual event. While the 5K will be offered in-person this year, MSMC is still offering a virtual option.


Share your ideas and tips from previous Small Business Saturday celebrations with the Main Street America network on The Point, and stay tuned for an announcement about an exciting new opportunity for Main Street programs to share their best ideas from Small Business Saturday 2021.