‘Small Business Weekend’ kicks off holiday season Uptown

With a wet Halloween in the rear-view mirror, get ready for a packed holiday season across historic Uptown. The entire community is invited to visit to shop local, celebrate together and make memories in Uptown Westerville this holiday season.

Beginning on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29, Uptown Westerville Inc. is rolling out festive programming designed to celebrate the season and create special moments for families and friends.

Uptown Westerville Inc., a nationally accredited Main Street America organization, is proud to promote this annual observance in partnership with Main Street America and American Express. Many Uptown businesses offer expanded holiday hours through the holiday season; however, hours vary by location, so visitors are encouraged to check individual business websites or social media pages for holiday hours.

In fact, Uptown is extending Small Business Saturday national observance to a whole weekend to support shopping local in Westerville. Be sure to visit the stores, shops and restaurants Uptown on Small Business Sunday Nov. 30.

Kick off your Small Business Sunday holiday shopping Nov. 30 with:

• 500 “Holidays in Uptown” canvas shopping totes will be available to shoppers Nov. 30 – free while supplies last – beginning on “Small Business Sunday” Nov. 30 – Uptown’s expansion of the national Small Business Saturday into an entire weekend push to shop local, shop small, and shop Uptown. Visit the Uptown Westerville Inc. tent in Rotary Park, at the southeast corner of Home and State streets, to pick up your Holidays in Uptown tote. 
• The Gingerbread Obstacle Course and Snowman Bounce House for kids and families will be set up Nov. 30 in the parking lot adjacent to Columbus Running Co., 50 N. State St. Hours for the bounce house and obstacle course will be noon-3 p.m.
• Uptown Gift Cards: If you want a little Uptown flexibility in your gifts this year, think about the new Uptown Gift Card. Available to purchase online here, the cards are honored at more than 20 Uptown shops and restaurants – from A Twist on Olives to Whit’s Frozen Custard. The cards can be bought in any dollar amount from $5 and up. Load some up for your family members, and let them decide where to do the shopping.

• Good Medicine Productions troop members will get a little Scrooge-y, presenting their seventh annual “Uptown Scrooge: Abridged” production on Sunday afternoons Dec. 7, 14 and 21 inside Java Central, 20 S. State St. What happens when A Christmas Carol collides with improv, comedy, music, and a dash of audience mischief? You get Uptown Scrooge: Abridged! — a lightning-fast, laugh-packed Westerville holiday tradition. Three performances will take place each Sunday. Get tickets online here.

And that’s just the start! The season continues with beloved community traditions:

• City Tree Lighting Ceremony: Enjoy a night of holiday festivities in Uptown Westerville from 6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, at Westerville City Hall, 21 S. State St. The city’s Festival of Lights featuring city vehicles decked out with holiday cheer will run from Home Street to Park Street, with an appearance from Santa at City Hall.
• Return of the Westerville Christmas Parade, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Staged by a new group this year, Good For Westerville, the parade will step off from St. Paul Church, 303 N. State St., and conclude at Walnut Street, said Good for Westerville  Executive Director Rhi Bailey said. Bailey asked that, as residents attending the parade bring along canned or dry good food donation for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry food pantry. Hot cocoa stations and donation boxes for the food donations to WARM will dot the parade route. Santa will ride on a vintage fire truck at the end of the procession, and families are invited to get photos with Santa afterward at COhatch Westerville, 240 S. State St.

Note: The 2025 Westerville Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6 – not Sunday as in years past.

• The Westerville Lions Club Rudolph 5K Run/Walk and Winterfest: This family-encouraged 5K event will take place from 1:30-4:30 on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Westerville Sports Complex (325 N Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43082). Santa, food trucks, and activities for families and spectators will be featured. The Rudolph Run/Walk 5K will generate funds to benefit Westerville area organizations. Register here.
• Handel’s Messiah Sing-A-Long: Join the Westerville Symphony for the second annual Messiah sing-along inside the beautiful St. Paul Church, 313 N. State St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are $30/$25 for seniors with an additional $15 charge for copies of the score – or you can bring your own score from home.
• Ugly Sweater Snack & Stroll: Get out your funkiest holiday sweater and proudly show it off Uptown. It’ll be a great day to enjoy historic Uptown and again “Shop Small” to support local businesses. The fun will take place all across the Uptown district, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Businesses throughout will welcome the be-sweatered with holiday snacks. Stroll the shops to wrap up your holiday shopping, grab a meal at one of Uptown’s great restaurants or pubs … and check out all the other ugly sweaters on display Dec. 14.
• Ice Sculpture Tour: Presented by the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association, the ice sculptures will be installed outside many shops by 6 p.m. Dec. 19, continuing through Dec. 20 – and as long as the weather allows the ice to hold up!
• Uptown Westerville Inc. Calendar: Be sure to check the UWI events calendar here for other holiday events going on in historic Uptown and individual shop events.