Small Business Saturday In Baltimore County: Markets, Beer Garden, Ice-Skating

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Saturday, Nov. 30, is a crucial day for independently owned local businesses in Baltimore County. It’s Small Business Saturday, the kickoff to “shop small” events that emphasize the power of dollars spent in local communities.

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is sandwiched between the major Black Friday retail shopping holiday, which tends to favor national brands, and Cyber Monday, an online shopping event that this year takes place on Dec. 2.

"Small Business Saturday is a crucial day for our local economy," Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brent Howard told Patch in an email. "It provides a platform for small businesses to connect with the community, drive sales, and contribute to our region's economic vitality."

Baltimore County will have several events to celebrate Small Business Saturday.

The Chamber of Commerce will hold a Small Business Saturday Market. The festivities will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Metro Centre at Owings Mills. Shoppers can browse offerings from local retailers and artists while enjoying live music and lunch from food trucks. More details are posted here.

"Baltimore County boasts a thriving small business community, which significantly contributes to our local economy and job market. By supporting these businesses, we're investing in the future of our community," Howard said. "The generous support of David S. Brown and Associates has been crucial in making this event possible. Their commitment to our community has enabled us to provide a platform for local businesses to thrive."

The Avenue at White Marsh will also host its 4th Annual Small Business Saturday Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"Shop from over 140 local makers and artists, grab a bite to eat at one of our many locally owned restaurants/eateries and enjoy family fun in an outdoor festival setting," the event listing said. "This festival will be complete with live music, a Red Brick beer garden, ice skating, an ornament crafting booth, gift wrapping tent, and more!"

The Shops at Kenilworth will offer free holiday face painting from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the lower level by the fountain. The mall will also have a paid permanent jewelry event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lower level by South Moon Under and Italian Gardens. Visit the event page to learn more.

Small Business Saturday has drawn $163 billion in consumer spending since its inception.

There are 668,365 small businesses in Maryland, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 state profile. Small businesses account for 99.6 percent of all Maryland businesses.

With 1.1 million workers, small businesses employ 48.6 percent of the state's workforce.

Local businesses depend on increased sales in the last few months of the year to help them reach their revenue goals, and you’ll find plenty of in-store cheer and holiday happenings that will make the shopping experience fun.

Locally owned businesses recirculate a far greater percentage of revenue locally compared to absentee-owned businesses, according to the American Independent Business Alliance. Independents return about 48 percent of their revenues back into the local economy, compared to 14 percent returned to the local economy by chains.

Small businesses are typically defined by the federal government as those with fewer than 500 employees.

They are responsible for two of every three jobs over the past 25 years. Even a partial collapse of small businesses could weaken the overall U.S. economy, according to the Labor Department.

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