Shop small. Make a big impact.
Small Business Saturday is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and at Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, it kicks off The Season at Stanley. Spend the day with the makers, chefs and neighbors who make this place what it is, with Santa visits, live music, artists at work and a fire pit on the patio.
Why it matters
Every shop, restaurant and studio here is run by someone who lives down the street. Spend the day at Stanley and you’re backing real people, real dreams and a community worth gathering in. In a world of endless online options, shopping small has never mattered more.
Choose local. Choose unique. Choose community.
Small Business Saturday schedule
Your Saturday, hour by hour. Santa, the Bear Drop and live music are free and open to all, with no tickets or appointments.
- 10 AM
The Bear Drop, round 1
Little 3D-printed bears are hiding around the Marketplace. Find one, turn it in and win a Stanley Gift Card. Ten winners each round, with more than $1,000 in prizes in all.
Clues and instructions will be posted that morning on @stanleymarketplace, so follow along for the details.
- 11 AM – 1 PM
Free Santa visits and photos
Meet Old Saint Nick in the Common Area for a classic holiday photo, or visit Sensory Santa at Psychology at Stanley on the second floor for a calmer, sensory-friendly visit.
- 11 AM – 1 PM
Yuletide Carolers
A mixed-voice a cappella group sings traditional carols while families visit Santa.
- 11 AM – 7 PM
Live screenprinting with Abstract
Three designs from local artists, printed live all day by Abstract. Pick up a freshly printed tote to carry your Small Business Saturday finds home in, made right in front of you. A portion of every screenprint goes back to the artist.
Totes $15Tees $20Bring your own item $10
- 2 PM
The Bear Drop, round 2
A fresh batch of bears drops at 2. Ten more winners.
- 2 – 9 PM
Fireside and the Casita Bar
West Patio
Stanley’s new seasonal gathering spot, with a fire pit, blankets and a pop-up holiday bar hosted by Cheluna Brewing Co.
- 6 – 8 PM
Denver Dolls
Fireside, West Patio
Vintage swing, jazz standards and holiday classics, in harmonies straight out of the 1940s and ’50s.
Small Business Saturday deals
What our businesses have planned for the day.
Bonez 4 Budz
9 AM – 9 PM
Extended hours
Spoil your four-legged besties with gifts for dogs, cats and the humans who love them. Five shoppers will take home a special Subaru gift box, and the personalized holiday cookie station puts your pup’s name on their very own treat. Bring the dogs, and come in through the Doggie Door on the north side of the building.
TRUE
20% off
All sweaters
Sweater-weather finds from a locally owned boutique, and a team that loves helping you find the perfect fit.
More deals coming
Shops are still sending in their Small Business Saturday specials. Check back this week.
“Every time you shop small, you’re helping keep your neighborhood fun, weird, welcoming and full of really good treats. We wouldn’t be Bonez without our pack, and we’re so grateful you keep choosing us. Grab your pup, tell your neighbors and come make a day of it.”
Small Business Saturday questions
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a day set aside to shop at independently owned local businesses instead of big-box stores and online retailers. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, November 28.
What is happening at Stanley Marketplace on Small Business Saturday 2026?
Free Santa visits and photos, including a sensory-friendly Santa, the Bear Drop with more than $1,000 in gift card prizes, live holiday carolers, live screenprinting with Abstract from 11 AM to 7 PM, tote bags with purchase, free gift wrapping, Sip and Shop, tenant deals, and the Denver Dolls by the fire pit on the West Patio from 6 to 8 PM.
Are the Small Business Saturday events at Stanley free?
Yes. Santa photos, the Bear Drop, live music and gift wrapping are all free, with no tickets or appointments. Tote bags come with a purchase from any Stanley retailer, while supplies last.
Is there a sensory-friendly Santa near Denver?
Yes. Sensory Santa is at Psychology at Stanley, on the second floor of Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, from 11 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, November 28, for a calmer, quieter visit. No appointment is needed and photos are free.
Is Small Business Saturday at Stanley good for kids and families?
Yes. Families can meet Santa, search for hidden bears in the Bear Drop to win gift cards, listen to carolers, and grab a meal at one of the Marketplace’s locally owned restaurants.
What kinds of businesses are at Stanley Marketplace?
More than 50 independently owned Colorado businesses, including boutiques, gift and home shops, a pet store, restaurants, bars and a beer hall, coffee and bakeries, salons, wellness and fitness studios, and creative studios, all in a restored aviation factory.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs aren’t allowed in the indoor common areas, but they’re welcome on the outdoor patios at Logan House, Stanley Beer Hall, Boychik and The Local Drive. Visiting Bonez 4 Budz? Bring your pup through the Doggie Door on the north side of the building. Service animals are always welcome throughout the Marketplace.
Where is Stanley Marketplace, and where do I park?
2501 Dallas St., Aurora, CO 80010, just east of Denver on the edge of the Central Park neighborhood, in a restored aviation factory. Parking is always free, with surface lots on the north, east and south sides of the building. If the lots fill up, there’s street parking nearby on 25th Ave., 26th Ave., Clinton St. and Dallas St.
And that’s just day one
A different Santa every weekend, the After Hours Night Market, a Holiday Bartending Competition and more through December 31.