It’s the most wonderful time of the year,

with stores opening early,

and everyone telling you ‘shop here!’

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

For the holiday go-getters that are revving up for Black Friday, they will need to save some energy for one more outing to Golden’s Shop Small Holly-day event on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express three years ago, is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses in local communities, and this year, Golden will be participating in the nationwide celebration of small business commerce.

“Small business Saturday is the perfect day to celebrate and support small businesses that make up Golden,” Jenifer Doane, community marketing manager for City of Golden, said. “It’s replacing the holiday open house, we kind of took that concept and moved it to small business Saturday.”

The holiday open house was an event in which businesses extended their store hours during one weekend in the month of December.

Golden’s shop small event will begin at 8 a.m. with local restaurants participating including El Callejon who will be preparing breakfast burritos, with other restaurants offering deals on breakfast and lunch.

Craig Baker, contractor for OgilvyAction (marketing firm) and ambassador for the Golden Chamber of Commerce, lead the campaign to help spread the word about Small Business Saturday to shops in Golden.

“The chamber has been very instrumental in helping to bring a lot of business into Golden, small and large,” Baker said. “The visitors center helps direct visitors to local small business,” and then you have the start of the Olde Golden Christmas parades, he said. “It’s just nice to consolidate efforts and get something even better going on.”

Shop owners will be having amazing deals similar to big business competitors, along with a “Santa Stocking Shuffle” in which visitors are encouraged to bring their Christmas stocking to receive stocking stuffer giveaways by shop owners.

Runners High located at 103 North Rubey Drive, in Golden is offering 30-percent off Native eyewear with a lifetime warranty and Nike sunglasses. Elsewhere in the store: 10 percent off on footware and 20 percent off apparel.

“We thought the 30 percent on sunglasses would draw people as a nice Christmas present,” Deb Spence owner of Runners High said. “As a small business it’s just nice to get together with other small businesses to be big.”

Meyers Hardware will be offering free key making services, and Creekside Jewelers is offering 40 percent off Citizen watches.

With 500 locally owned businesses in Golden, it would be difficult not to find something that will make a great gift this holiday season.

“There will be plenty of shopping to do before the parade,” Doane said. “In addition to these great sales you’re also going to get a warm smile, hot cider and cookies.”

Entertainment along the avenue will help drive the holiday start with the Colorado School of Mines Choir performing in front of the Visitors Center, 8:30 to 10 a.m. and dance troupe, Destination Dance, who will be dressed as penguins are scheduled to start at 9 a.m., followed by the first Olde Golden Christmas parade at 11 a.m.