A Safe New Twist on Small Business Saturday 2020

In 2020, small businesses have felt the impact of the global pandemic more than any other type of business. Small businesses are the glue that hold communities togethers, build vibrant culture, and define the heart of a city. The pandemic has vastly impacted small businesses and required business owners to follow a new set of rules in order to keep patrons safe. At the same time, small businesses have sustained and adapted so that they can stay afloat, keep their employees paid, and help the communities that they serve. For these reasons, and many more, this year’s Small Business Saturday is more important than ever. The Carlsbad Village is the heart of downtown Carlsbad, and it is a unique and bustling place to get to know our city. Small Business Saturday is celebrated in cities around the world. It is reserved as a day to support small business owners and an annual holiday shopping tradition that kicks off the season of gift giving. This year, it will be a new experience fueled by the perseverance of the dedicated local businesses that have supported the Carlsbad community throughout the pandemic.

The 11th Annual Small Business Saturday will take place on November 28th. While group gatherings are limited by the health pandemic, the typical main street experience will be transformed into a new and exciting way to interact with small businesses in the Village. The Carlsbad Village Association has set up an interactive Treasure Hunt that will enable guests to explore downtown. The game will keep safety measures in place while encouraging participants to learn more about the businesses, learn about the Village’s history, and experience some iconic landmarks in a new way.

The Treasure Hunt will take place from November 13th through the end of the Small Business Saturday weekend (11:59 p.m. on November 29th). It gives guests the ability to complete the hunt at their own pace while socially distancing. To participate, all you have to do is download the game card to get started. The card has a variety of tasks and questions that will require players to explore downtown in order to find the answers. After a minimum of 13 questions and/or tasks have been completed, participants can be entered into a contest to win a $50 gift card to one of Carlsbad’s local businesses.

If participants complete all of the questions and tasks on the game card, they will be entered into a Grand Prize drawing. The Grand Prize will be given to two different winners. One will receive a $100 gift card to a Village restaurant of their choice and the other will receive a gift card basket valued at $100 to Village Faire Shopping Center businesses. The entire Treasure Hunt can be completed at your own pace, and free of large gatherings. Submissions can be done remotely, by emailing event@calrsbad-village.com with a name, email, phone number, and legible answers. Winners will be chosen at random and winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 2nd.

On Small Business Saturday itself, the Carlsbad Village Association will be hosting a booth with a photo op for the interactive Treasure Hunt, as well as Small Business Saturday swag, and a last chance to take part in this year’s one-of-a-kind interactive game.

In a world of uncertainty, Carlsbad small businesses have stepped up to sustain the heart of our downtown. Over 17 local businesses have graciously contributed to Small Business Saturday, donating $1,000 worth of prizes towards purchases from small businesses in Carlsbad Village.

Shopping at small businesses makes an impact in the community. On Small Business Saturday, you can “Shop Small,” support local business owners, get a jump start on holiday gift giving, and participate in the Treasure Hunt to learn more about all of the things that make Carlsbad Village great.