#ShopStrongSaturday: Show your love for independent businesses this holiday season

Downtown Dayton celebrated April's First Friday on Friday, April 5 with art, fashion and a birthday party for the City of Dayton, which turned 223 years-old on April 1. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Downtown Dayton celebrated April's First Friday on Friday, April 5 with art, fashion and a birthday party for the City of Dayton, which turned 223 years-old on April 1. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Holiday shoppers have another opportunity to show their love for downtown Dayton independent businesses.

#ShopStrongSaturday, a response to the series of tragedies that have impacted the city this year, will be held Saturday, Dec. 14.

“We’re a community of small locally owned businesses, and this has been a difficult year,” said Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “We wanted to work with our small businesses to give them a boost.”

Unique gift giving for everyone on your shopping list can be found among the 82 salons, boutiques, and small retailers. A directory of shops can be found here.

A gift certificate to an eatery may be the perfect present. Here is a guide to the 92 eateries in downtown Dayton.

 TY GREENLEES / STAFF

icon to expand image

Live entertainers will rove throughout the Oregon District and downtown during the event adding to the festive atmosphere.

Don’t miss the other holiday events also going on that day.

The rain didn't keep happy customers away from their local haunts for Small Business Saturday. Businesses including Brim, Clash Dayton, Heart on Fifth, Omega Music, and Baker Salvage Company had sales, coffee and treats for loyal patrons who braved the weather on Nov. 28, 2015. VIVIENNE MACHI / STAFF

icon to expand image

Santa Claus will use his magic to be at Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St., for a special lunch at 11a.m., at Reza’s Downtown, 438 Wayne Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and throughout the day at the 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St.

>>Virginia Kettering’s train display is a long-standing Dayton holiday tradition 

The 14th annual Toys for Tots Holiday Pub Crawl will be held at participating bars in the Oregon District from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a $10 unwrapped toy for a child or donate a minimum of $10 to get your crawl card. More information can be found here.

Dress like Santa, one of his elves, or your favorite Christmas character and join in a costume contest at Wiley’s Comedy club for a chance to win prizes.  This event is for ages 21 and up.

A horde of jolly old elves, a bunch of reindeer and ton of other fun-lovers dressed in Christmas-themed costumes celebrated the season in the Oregon District during the 13th Annual Santa Pub Crawl . The mission was to gather gifts for the Marines' Dayton area Toys for Tots program. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

icon to expand image

Credit: Tom Gilliam

For every $1 spent at a local, small business, approximately 67 cents will stay in the community according to the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

Visitors can also pick up a special Downtown Dayton Holiday Wish List at businesses. The wish list is filled with to-do ideas to take part in during the holiday season.

“We want to celebrate locally owned restaurants and businesses and encourage people to come downtown and to the Oregon District,” Gudorf said. “We want people to enjoy downtown for the holidays and at the same time support our local businesses after the year everybody has had.”

The rain didn't keep happy customers away from their local haunts for Small Business Saturday. Businesses including Brim, Clash Dayton, Heart on Fifth, Omega Music, and Baker Salvage Company had sales, coffee and treats for loyal patrons who braved the weather on Nov. 28, 2015. VIVIENNE MACHI / STAFF

icon to expand image

About the Author