Small Business Saturday

Founded in 2010 by American Express as a locally focused counterbalance to the big-box-focused Black Friday, Small Business Saturday takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, bringing deals and events to locally owned businesses. Many areas of Greater Lansing will take part this year.

A $5,000 donation from Resch Strategies has allowed Downtown Lansing Inc. to double the value of Downtown Digital Dollars e-gift cards on Saturday while supplies last. The funds can be spent at 35 participating downtown businesses. More information can be found at downtownlansing.org.

In Old Town, shops will run their own individually chosen deals.

Businesses in downtown DeWitt will offer punchcards to those who shop from more than five local businesses, with a chance to win a gift basket.

The REO Town marketplace will kick off its Mistletoe Market, which will run every Saturday through Dec. 20 from noon to 4 p.m., featuring about 20 vendors alongside the stores already there. Saturday will also be the final day of business for Wayfaring Booksellers, a bookstore in the marketplace already offering 40% off storewide.

The South Lansing Farmers Market will host 80 local vendors at the Lansing Mall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering all sorts of food, gifts and other artisanal items, as well as massage, reiki, tarot readings and henna art. The event will also include live music, raffle drawings and an international food court.

In addition to dozens of participating local businesses, there will be family activities in downtown Charlotte throughout the day, such as a free screening of “The Polar Express” at the Eaton Theatre and a lighted holiday parade throughout the downtown streets, followed by a tree lighting at Courthouse Square.

Last but not least, in Williamston, the upstairs shops at Keller’s Plaza will have an art show from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.