As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, several business owners in Deep River are hosting an event on Saturday, Nov. 14 to show appreciation for patrons and to recognize the efforts of the business community to create a safe shopping experience during the pandemic.

Named the Thankful Market, the event promises to be “a fun way to kick off the holiday season, spread smiles, and neighborly spirit,” according to a press release from event organizers.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 14, 10 participating businesses of the shopping district of Deep River will offer discounts and samples, live music from the Oldies but Goodies band, and a turkey feather hunt activity.

Each household that wishes to partake in the hunt can obtain an 8 ½ by 11 paper depicting a featherless turkey from any of the participating businesses. These businesses are Anchor and Compass, Compass Rose, Celebrations, The Nest Coffee House, Red House, Pet’s Choice, G’s Treasures, Halley Jo’s Corner Café, Deep River Pizza, and Deep River Hardware.

“Every shop is going to have a feather of its own color,” said The Nest Coffee House Executive Director Jane Moen, a co-organizer of the event.

Households visit each business to obtain a feather. No purchase is necessary. Once the household’s paper turkey has all 10 feathers, it can be entered into a drawing for one of 10 gift certificates.

The finished turkeys “are going to go into a turkey pot in front of The Nest,” said Moen.

The 10 gift certificates, one from each shop, will range from $10 to $100. The drawings from the turkey pot will take place at 5 p.m. Winners do not have to be present.

Event co-organizer Sage Novak said that with the cancellation of several key community events in Deep River this year, such as the muster in July and Family Day in September, the Thankful Market was created “as a way to safely gather our community and show our appreciation,” she said.

Novak, who owns Anchor and Compass at 163 Main Street and Compass Rose at 4 River Street, said that the COVID-19 pandemic presented some challenges to small business in Deep River, but that they were overcome by each shop owner’s ingenuity.

“Many of us offered curbside pick-up and delivery when our doors were closed to the public,” she said. “I did tons of personal shopping for people using Facetime and texting.”

“COVID’s silver lining is that we have all adapted and changed to keep our community safe as well as offer the products and service people want and need,” said Moen. “Most shops have an online presence but really there is nothing like coming downtown to shop where you can say hi to a neighbor or friend, feel the fresh air, smell fresh cookies, touch that scarf, and feel the value of a community.”

This is the first Thankful Market in Deep River. Event organizers aim for it to become an annual event during the month of November.

“We have a lot of momentum carrying us into the holiday season and we are very much looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling eyes above their masks,” said Novak.