Santa Claus greets Delawareans at Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade
Santa Claus brings up the rear at the Wilmington Jaycees Christmas Parade on Nov. 30, 2024.
- Small Business Saturday shines a spotlight on locally-owned businesses for holiday shopping the day after Black Friday.
- Events at towns and cities in Delaware include parades, visits by Santa and tree lighting ceremonies.
- This year’s celebration is Saturday, Nov. 29, but some towns also have events leading up to the big day.
Cities, towns and community organizations throughout Delaware are planning events to help “the little guy” on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, a day highlighting local stores, restaurants and service businesses during the holiday shopping season.
To promote the “shop small” programs, Delaware Division of Small Business Director CJ Bell and members of his staff have been visiting locally owned businesses to talk with owners and managers about the national promotions and the state effort led by the Delaware Small Business Development Center.
One of the places Bell visited Nov. 17 was Veronica’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in Dover, where he learned the pizza-making process from Javier Medina, general manager at the family-owned business that employs 20.
Bell said small businesses are a big part of Delaware’s economy.
“As we go through turbulent times at different levels of the economy and government, it’s vital that we support our own. Government can’t give you services without revenue, and revenue is created by businesses like this,” Bell said.
Medina said Veronica’s has gift cards, just like the big chains, and pointed out that locally owned businesses often are the ones who donate to local causes, nonprofits and youth sports programs.
“We do fundraisers and give back to schools and the community,” Medina said. “Any attention to small businesses is fantastic. It’s good to support one another and help the little guy.”
Ironically, Small Business Saturday was founded a major company, American Express, in 2010 to help local businesses and their communities with promotional ideas and business advice. The event has been co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011.
American Express also is partnering with Main Street America, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local economies, on the $5 million Amex Shop Small grants program, funding 250 grants of $20,000 each to eligible small business owners.
The “shop small” programs shine a light on locally owned enterprises that can get lost during all the Black Friday hoopla by chains and larger stores, said Andrea Wojcik, director of communications for the Delaware Division of Small Business.
“This gives small businesses a boost, a way to be visible when they might not be able to because they don’t have the financial resources of the larger businesses,” Wojcik said.
To draw people to stores and downtowns on Small Business Saturday, cities, towns and organizations throughout Delaware are planning special events like these:
Parade in Wilmington
The Wilmington Jaycees are sponsoring the 61st annual Christmas Parade downtown Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. in conjunction with Small Business Saturday.
“For 61 years, the Jaycees Christmas parade has spread holiday cheer throughout the city,” said Mayor John Carney. “This is a great opportunity to check off items on your holiday shopping list by supporting the diverse small businesses that make up our downtown neighborhood.”
The parade will feature floats, antique cars, local celebrities, community groups, marching band, string bands and other performers, but the star of the show will be Santa Claus.
Delaware Jaycees president and parade director Josh Hoveln said the parade is “the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, a great community-building event in the city of Wilmington and no better way to meet the small businesses located downtown.”
Santa arrives by boat in Delaware City
The Delaware City Main Street program is celebrating Small Business Saturday with the arrival of Santa on a fireboat 1 p.m., at Battery Park, 33 Clinton St., followed by photos with Saint Nick and free harbor cruises until 3 p.m.
Winter coats for kids will be given away while supplies last, sponsored by the Delaware City Library.
Downtown shops and restaurants will be open for holiday shopping and dining.
Middletown tree lighting and lamppost decorating
The Middletown Main Street program is planning three events to promote locally owned businesses, starting with the lamppost decorating contest the week of Nov. 24, when people can vote for their favorite lamppost on the Main Street website.
The town’s tree lighting ceremony will be Friday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m., at Main and Broad streets.
The events all lead to Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29 to encourage people to shop and eat locally.
Santa, tree lighting and farmers market in Milford
Downtown Milford Inc. is organizing “Small Business Saturday with Santa” on Nov. 29 with events throughout the day.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the holiday spirit while supporting our local businesses,” said Sadé Truiett, coordinator of Downtown Milford Inc.
The farmers market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on the Riverwalk at 1 S. Walnut St.
At 11 a.m., Santa will ride through town on a firetruck to his house near the Riverwalk on South Walnut Street. He will greet children and pose for photos until 3 p.m.
The Milford tree lighting ceremony will start at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, 201 S. Walnut St., with special performances, hot chocolate and cookies.
Most local businesses will be open until at least 6 p.m., offering a variety of deals, sales, refreshments and open houses.
Santa cruises into Lewes
In Lewes on Nov. 29, Santa will arrive by water taxi at the Lewes dock at 1812 Memorial Park at about 12:45 p.m., and visit with children at his home on Second Street from 1 to 3 p.m.
People can ride on the boat with Santa starting at Cape Water Tours, 213 Anglers Road, at noon. The 45-minute cruise is $15 for children under 12, $18 for ages 60 and up and military personnel and $20 for adults. Check the company’s website for tickets and reservations. Guests can disembark with Santa in Lewes or stay onboard for the return trip to Anglers Road.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., decorating for Trees of Cheer for the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Delaware will be held at the Beacon Inn, 514 E. Savannah Road. For $60, people can reserve a tree to decorate to donate to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House and families in need in the Cape Henlopen School District. For information, email chelsea@jacklingo.com.
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
