By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

Vicksburg residents can shop all Thanksgiving weekend thanks to Small Business Saturday.

This Saturday, as Black Friday sales come to a halt, large businesses return to normal and Thanksgiving dinner ends, Small Business Saturday will be just beginning.

The national event originated in 2010 as a means to promote the support of small businesses during one of the busiest shopping times of the year and made its way to the city of Vicksburg.

Small Business Saturday is a reminder to residents of Vicksburg to invest in the city as well as large brand name stores. Many of the local businesses will have sales occurring and others will be selling unique items, which cannot be found in any other store.

Small Business Saturday is expected to generate sales within small businesses, but it will also give many small businesses support and recognition from the city and its residents.

Bakeries, clothing stores, spas, restaurants and many other businesses will be participating in Small Business Saturday and most will have sales.

Vicksburg local businesses have been a part of Small Business Saturday since the origin of the event and more local businesses participate each year.

With more than 50 small businesses in the city of Vicksburg, at least one item is sure to catch patrons’ eyes.

Stores such as the Cinnamon Tree, The DragonFly and even Merle Norman Cosmetics- Belle Rose Salon & Spa have participated in Vicksburg’s Small Business Saturday and each will be participating again Saturday.

“Last year was good, it was busy,” said Kim Laird, manager of Merle Norman. “This year we have a 30 percent off rack and Shoofly has purses and shoes on sale too.”

The Merle Norman store will be participating in the citywide occasion for the second time Saturday.

Small Business Saturday will trickle into Sunday as well, as the annual Old Fashioned Christmas Open House kicks off Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and will continue until 5:30 p.m.

The open house will be a Christmas jumpstart as residents of the city come out once again to browse and shop for Christmas gifts to purchase.

The event will be the city’s 21st open house and has involved more than 25 downtown stores, most of which will have Christmas sales from Small Business Saturday still going on.

Merchants will have a few items outside of the stores and some will be giving out Christmas goodies inside of the stores.

Poinsettias will be given out Sunday as a way to get the city into the Christmas spirit as well. With the purchase of $25 or more, a patron will receive one of the Christmas flowers, but only while the flowers last.

Santa will be at the annual Old Fashioned Christmas Open House from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and children will have the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him about any Christmas desires. Parents are asked to be sure to bring a camera because, as is tradition, children will be allowed to take pictures with Santa as well.