Small Business Saturday is a nationwide movement that began in 2010 to encourage the support of local neighborhood businesses and bring more holiday shopping to them.  Founded by American Express, the day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and Fairfax City is proud to once again bring awareness to the Shop Small® movement with our 2nd Annual Small Business Saturday Elf Hunt.

Fairfax City’s Office of Economic Development, Economic Development Authority, Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, and the Old Town Fairfax Business Association are partnering together to once again rally our city to support and celebrate Small Business Saturday.  This year, we will continue our city-wide “Elf Hunt” but with a twist.  Instead of hiding the elf in stores, businesses will incorporate them into their storefront window displays.  Each participating business will have an elf and a QR code displayed in their window that can be scanned to verify the elf was “found”.  When the QR code is scanned, not only will it verify the elf was found but links to participating businesses websites will be included along with ways to support them online and information on specials and promotions they are offering.  

Our traditional hardcopy Elf Hunt cards will also be available for those who visit participating businesses in-person, as many of them will be offering in-store specials for the day.  The traditional Elf Hunt cards will list each participating business and when you visit in-store, the businesss will stamp the card confirming your “find”.  Traditional Elf Hunt cards will be avaialble at our “Welcome Station” on Saturday, November 28 from 10:00 am to noon at Old Town Square, 10415 North Street.  At the welcome station you can pick up morning treats, hot cocoa, receive a free Small Business Saturday canvas tote, stickers, and more.

Residents and visitors will have from Saturday, November 28 through Sunday, December 13 to find ten or more elves.  Participants that find 10 or more elves, will have their name entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards to a Fairfax City business of their choice.  

This is a socially-distanced event but visitors that have been diagnosed with COVID-19, awaiting tests results for COVID-19, or show any symptoms of the virus are asked to stay home.  To ensure the health and safety of the public, the Fairfax City Economic Development Office will be implementing comprehensive COVID-19 protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus which includes:

• Temporal temperature checks upon entering;
• Limited occupancy;
• Attendees are asked to wear face coverings;
• Use of hand sanitizer for all attendees and avoidance of causal touching;
• Entrances and exits will be monitored for one-way traffic;
• Social distancing required between patrons.

 

Unable to visit the “welcome station” on Saturday, November 28?  Download your elf hunt card here and don’t forget to shop local with participating businesses!  Promotions from each participating business will be offered in support of Small Business Saturday, check out each one at fairfaxcityconnected.com/sbs2020.