Saturday, November 26th, 2022 is Small Business Saturday – a day that promotes supporting local businesses instead of big corporations. Just because Small Business Saturday is one day out of the year doesn’t mean you can’t always support local. Read on to learn more about some of our favorite independent businesses in our 21 counties.

Western Region

Our favorite places to shop are those that combine product and experience, and Stumpy’s Spirits and Distillery in Columbia is no exception. While stocking up on liquor for the holidays, be sure to participate in a tour of the distillery. The ticket price of $10 includes sampling the various bourbons, whiskeys, and vodkas that are distilled on-site along with a complimentary cocktail.

If you’re looking for an experience that is sure to bring Christmas cheer to the entire family, make sure you visit the Christkindlmarkt in Belleville. This traditional German outdoor market opens on Black Friday and runs until December 23rd. Here you’ll find countless local vendors to fulfill all your holiday shopping needs. Next, get out of the cold and have some fun the entire family can enjoy at Escape618 in Belleville. This is the only escape room located in Belleville, and as soon as you walk through the front door you’re immersed in a whimsical world. Spend your wait time playing vintage video games, checkers, connect four, and more! Then, head into one of two escape rooms: detention or the haunted house and get ready for an exhilarating hour of solving puzzles and doing your best to escape.

June’s Breakfast + Patio in Shiloh is one of the places to grab brunch on the weekend. The recently refurbished house-turned-café prides itself on its sustainable practices and seasonal menu. In addition to delicious food and coffee, they sell merchandise such as mugs, tote bags, and hats. Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for that coffee lover in your family? Snag one of their gift cards!

Central Region

Our central region is full of some of our go-to eco-friendly places. The first stop is Evergreen Plant Co. in Greenville. This shop is a gold mine for people whose favorite way to decorate is by filling up their home with plants. They have dozens of plant variations from succulents and cacti to monsteras and air plants. They have countless decorative pots to purchase, and you can even pot the plant you’re taking home at their very own potting station! Once you get your fill of plants, head over to their sister store Spruce Craft + Collective for all your home décor needs.

Z’s Bees Apothecary promotes saving the bees with their hives in Highland, Trenton, and New Baden. Better yet, you can reap the benefits by purchasing their products from their website. They offer lip balm, wax melts, whipped soap, and more! On top of that, you’ll get the bonus of shopping locally and helping save the bees. 

If you’re looking for coffee, look no further than Red Porch Café in New Baden. This nonprofit coffee shop partners with Community Link to provide jobs and support to people with disabilities. Along with delicious espresso-based drinks, the Red Porch Café sells handcrafted merchandise, breakfast and lunch, smoothies, and more!

Eastern Region

Do you have someone in your life who lives and breathes health and wellness? Get them a gift card to New Leaf Fitness and Spa in Lawrenceville! They offer everything from gym memberships and fitness classes to spa treatments. Additionally, their restaurant COCO’s Café and Wine Bar serves up some of the tastiest dishes around.

You know what they say about old trends: they always come back around. Which is why we LOVE antique stores. Our favorite place to find unique pieces is Backyard Markets in Mt. Carmel. This one stop shop has everything you could imagine under one roof, so I hope you have room in your trunk because you will not leave this store empty-handed.

Olive Tree Marketplace in Casey has everything you need to turn your home into the comforting haven you deserve. Along with their high-quality products, OTM offers classes year-round that focus on home design and improvement. If you have a family member that loves interior decorating, this is the place for them.

Our wine connoisseurs out there are sure to love Fox Creek Vineyards located just outside of Olney. This small, family-owned winery offers a wide variety of wines ranging from dry white to different fruit and red wines. Keep an eye on their calendar, because they often host fun events on the weekends including 5ks and live music.

This article comes from the 2022 edition of the Holiday Tourism Times. To request your free guide to seasonal fun, visit our Tourism Times page.