MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials with the City of Morgantown area are ready to welcome in the holiday shopping season with the help of members of the community.
Morgantown Mayor Danielle Trumble will take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate Small Business Saturday that will take place on November 29 starting at 11 a.m. at the WVU Retail Lab located along High Street in downtown Morgantown. Trumble will be on hand to welcome in the holidays along with representatives from Main Street Morgantown as well as visitors from the North Pole who will be available for pictures. Free parking will be hosted around downtown Morgantown all day Saturday as part of a weekend push for shopping at small businesses.
“It’s at 11 a.m. at the retail lab on High Street, which is the old Main Street Morgantown offices,” said Trumble. “We’ll be reading a proclamation, then we’re going to cut the ribbon on the holiday season, and I’m told Santa and Mrs. Claus are going to help with the ribbon, so I’m very excited.”
According to Trumble, giveaways will take place throughout Small Business Saturday, which will be separate from the exclusive promotions that will be offered from participating businesses. This will include a variety of items from small businesses based in downtown Morgantown that will be a part of Shop Small giveaways. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the WVU Retail Lab for most of the afternoon, with free pictures offered for families in attendance.
“It’s going to feel like the holidays,” said Trumble. “Santa and Mrs. Claus are going to be at the retail lab from 11 to 2 tomorrow, bring the kids down, or if you’re like me, a kid at heart maybe, come down and get your photo taken.”
Outside of the Morgantown Retail Lab on Saturday, local businesses located around the downtown area will be offering their own unique spin on Small Business Saturday. These will be showcased as part of the Downtown Holiday Gift Guide, which features exclusive offers, promotions, and events from participating businesses throughout the downtown area. Trumble encourages those who end up in Downtown Morgantown to shop to check out the offers that will be available.
“It’s the kind of small business Saturday celebrations (that are seen downtown), I know places like Hoot and Howl have vendors set up inside, it’s a fun day,” said Trumble.
The Small Business Saturday activities planned around downtown Morgantown will be hosted until 4 p.m. on Saturday, though promotions will be taking place throughout the weekend on an individualized business basis. To account for any weekend shoppers, the City of Morgantown is allowing for free parking to take place between November 27 and 30, and again during the holiday season from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2. With several local businesses considering this period one of the most important to support operations, Trumble encourages residents to come downtown and have fun while supporting local businesses.
“It’s their big season for sure, they rely on holiday sales to help them make it through the rest of the year, there’s so many, and they’re all locally owned,” said Trumble. “When you spend money at those downtown businesses, it stays right here in our community and supports your friends and neighbors.”