2025 Small Business Saturday Shop RI returns this weekend

WARWICK, R.I. — The 2025 Small Business Saturday Shop RI returns this holiday weekend, bringing together more than 150 local vendors for one of the state’s largest annual celebrations of small business. The event will be held Saturday, November 29, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

The free, family-friendly event offers a one-stop holiday shopping experience with a wide variety of entrepreneurs, artists, Farm Fresh RI vendors, social venture enterprises, veterans, minority-owned businesses, and disability-owned businesses. Organizers call it the best place in Rhode Island to shop small, with unique products and services all in one convenient location.

Small Business Saturday takes place every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was created by American Express in 2010 to encourage holiday shoppers to support small business owners. The event has steadily grown in popularity as an alternative to the rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which typically benefit large retailers. The “Shop Small” message encourages people to strengthen their local communities by spending with neighborhood businesses such as restaurants, cafes, boutiques, independent artists, and service providers.

Supporting small businesses is especially important in Rhode Island. Small businesses make up 98 percent of registered companies in the state and employ 57 percent of the workforce.

Organizers say the event is unique because it gives shoppers a rare chance to explore businesses from across the state without having to travel from town to town. It also allows participating vendors to network and connect with other small business owners. Attendance has grown significantly. About 1,500 people visited in 2017. In 2024, the showcase featured 150 vendors offering everything from home goods to pet products and attracted roughly 3,500 shoppers. It is also the only Small Business Saturday event in Rhode Island that highlights entrepreneurs with disabilities alongside veteran-owned and minority-owned businesses.

Small Business Saturday Shop RI is organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Center for Women and Enterprise, the Veterans Business Outreach Center, and the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council. Admission and parking are free.