Holiday events begin this weekend
Visitors to an antiques store in Historic Downtown Clinton check out the merchandise during Shop Small Saturday on Thanksgiving weekend in 2024. The event will return to downtown Clinton this coming Saturday, and despite Market Street construction, the stores will be open and accessible to customers. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
It’s among a long list of holiday events coming up in Clinton, Rocky Top, Norris and Oak Ridge beginning this week.
Shop Small Saturday is promoted by the Historic Downtown Clinton organization, but it is among similar events nationwide, called Small Business Saturday, celebrated annually on Thanksgiving weekend.
Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010, and has officially been co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011.
It’s described as “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” according to the SBA website.
“Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season,” the SBA says.
Spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $22 billion in 2024, according to the Consumer Insights Survey commissioned by American Express, the SBA said.
The Shop Small Saturday event in Clinton will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with downtown businesses open and ready for Christmas shopping as an alternative to the big box stores and their Black Friday promotions.
But those downtown businesses also will be open with Black Friday specials the day after Thanksgiving.
Other area holiday events coming up include:
• Rocky Top Christmas Market Crawl in the downtown area from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, followed by
• Rocky Top Christmas tree lighting, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.
• Rocky Top Christmas parade, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5.
• Clinton Christmas tree lighting, 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Clinton Community Center.
• Clinton Christmas parade, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.
The parade route will be the same as last year’s, beginning at Jaycee Park, then coming down Eagle Bend Road and then Market Street, turning left from Market Street onto Main Street, and ending at the courthouse.
Unlike last year, however, pedestrians will not be allowed on Market Street, as it is closed for construction.
• Norris Winter Festival, 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Norris Commons area, featuring live music, local artists, kids’ crafts, and food. Followed by:
• Norris Christmas parade, 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Floats will stage beginning at 5 p.m. in the Anderson Crossing Shopping Center, 3310 Andersonville Highway.
Walking participants will meet in the bus circle at Norris Middle School.
• Jesus, Elvis and Cornbread Chili Supper, 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Norris Religious Fellowship.
• Holiday Market in downtown Clinton from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. It includes the brick-and-mortar stores, along with street vendors, food trucks and more.
• Also on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1-4 p.m., the downtown Clinton merchants will sponsor the annual Cookie Crawl, featuring free cookies and other refreshments in the stores, along with visits from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and The Grinch.
• Candlelight Christmas at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13.
• Oak Ridge Christmas parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.