With the holiday season just around the corner, 28 Madison business owners will participate in Small Business Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 26, reminding residents to shop local.

On the 26th, businesses downtown will offer a series of discounts, offer refreshments to shoppers, and any purchase from a participating business will qualify shoppers for a chance to enter a drawing for a Madison Merchant Gift Bag. In addition, Santa will be downtown stopping for photos and visits with kids. Madison Chamber of Commerce President Ed Pellegrino said it’s important to support local businesses.

“So many of our local retailers are asked year-round to support charities and other local causes,” he said. “They give back to the community in a variety of ways, and offer services that are impossible to find at department stores or online. We should all remember to support these businesses, not only on Small Business Saturday, but all year long.”

Businesses will collect non-perishable items for the local food pantry on the day. Several food trucks will be in town as well, including Food Network’s Cupcake Wars winner Hardcore Sweet, according to Chamber Executive Director Eileen Banisch.

“People will have the option of some of our great places like the Eclectic Café or the R.J. Julia’s Café or Moxie,” she said. “They will have the option of either a food truck or a local place to catch lunch.”

While the Chamber is involved in Small Business Saturday, Banisch said the merchants themselves have really led the event. Ciao Bella Co-owner Janice Briguglio said the business owners have banded together to make this a special day.

“If you didn’t have small businesses, what would our town look like?” she said. “It is important to come out and support small businesses because we support the community as well. When people shop with us it is employing high school students or a mom that works part time—it is money that comes back into the community and it makes a big difference.”

Small Business Saturday will be held Saturday, Nov. 26 at participating stores in town. For more information, visit madisonct.com.