How to shop local on Small Business Saturday

The 16th annual edition of Small Business Saturday falls on November 29 — the perfect time to help you add a local sparkle into your holiday shopping.

November 24, 2025 • 
Staff
A photo of shops along King Street in Old Town Alexandria.

There are plenty of local shops to check out in Old Town Alexandria. | Photo via NOVAtoday

Here at NOVAtoday, we like to keep things local all year long, but on Small Business Saturday, the rest of the country joins us in our mission to shop small.

Founded by American Express in 2010 and cosponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday is an initiative to bring small businesses to the forefront of the holiday shopping season on the last Saturday of November.

This year’s event falls on Saturday, Nov. 29, and we want to make shopping local as easy as possible. This map will allow you to find small businesses in your area.

Maps of local businesses around Northern Virginia.

It doesn’t matter which area of town you live in — there are small businesses all around NOVA. | Screenshots via American Express

Here are a few that caught our eye:

Psst — do you own a local company? Read our small business coverage or check out these resources to help you participate in Small Business Saturday.

More from NOVAtoday
The inside of the Board Room VA in Arlington.
Business
Three ways to spend $20 in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood
How far can $20 go in Northern Virginia? Here’s our guide to spending in Clarendon.
April 20, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A Falls Church sign.
Small Business
Walk around Falls Church with Editor Ava
Want to explore Falls Church? These are the spots that I checked out when I walked around the area.
April 16, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A bee on a flower.
Food
Where to get local honey in Northern Virginia
Curb your spring allergies by eating some local honey from these five spots around NOVA.
April 15, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
An old photo of Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, VA.
History
Caroline Street through the ages
Recently recognized as the South’s best Main Street, this vibrant thoroughfare invites you to explore its rich history and enduring charm.
April 14, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The outside of Nettie's Tavern in Arlington's Clarendon neighborhood.
Food
Local food and drinks for less than NOVA’s current gas prices
Gas prices may be high, but here are different food and beverages around NOVA that are $4 or less.
April 13, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
The main area of Reston Town Center.
Take a stroll around Reston Town Center
Join Editor Ava for a stroll through Reston Town Center — and discover upcoming events you won’t want to miss.
April 8, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
NOVA-landing-bg.jpg
Culture
One year of NOVAtoday
NOVAtoday has been coming to your inbox for a full 365 days — here’s a breakdown of some stats.
April 6, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
Victorian-style homes in the Occoquan Historic District.
Real Estate
Victorian-style architecture in Northern Virginia
Have you noticed all of the architectural styles around NOVA? Learn about the Victorian-style and where you can see it in the area.
April 1, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski
A view of a green gold course with spectators lining the opposite side of a pond in its middle.
Sports
Bring Augusta National to Northern Virginia
You don’t need to travel to Georgia to experience the beauty of Augusta. We rounded up some ways to replicate the Masters experience in NOVA.
April 1, 2026
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
Plants outside for the Spring Garden Market with the American Horticultural Society.
Travel and Outdoors
A gardener’s guide to Northern Virginia
Are you an expert gardener or hoping to get into it? Here’s your guide on how to garden in NOVA, from local plant sales to gardening clubs.
March 31, 2026
 · 
Ava Wojnowski