Release Date: November 11,2025
2025 Shop Local Holiday Promotion Launches in Downtown Akron
November 11, 2025, Akron, Ohio — Downtown Akron is brimming with opportunities to shop local during the upcoming holiday season, with dozens of retail establishments and special holiday markets stocked and ready with one-of-a-kind offerings. To add to the fun and incentivize investment at downtown businesses, Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) is pleased to announce this year’s Shop Local Support Downtown Akron Holiday Promotion, which will run November 11 through December 31.
DAP Communications Director Dominic Caruso says, “Downtown is the cultural and entertainment center of Summit County, and while many visitors come for holiday shows, live music and ice skating, we want people to enjoy shopping and dining here as well. The Shop Local program works a little like a scavenger hunt and a little like a shopping/dining trail to encourage guests to experience all the unique gift-giving opportunities downtown has to offer.”
To participate in the Shop Local program, pick up a free Shop Local button at any of more than 10 establishments, or use a Shop Local pin obtained last year during Small Business Saturday and Artists Sunday weekend. Last year’s buttons are blue and red, and 2025’s buttons are green and white: both are eligible for participants to use. When participants visit downtown retail, experience or dining establishments, there are three unique pathways by which they can win prizes:
- Take a selfie inside a retail, experience-based or dining business with their Shop Local pin visible and post it to social media, tagging DAP (@downtownakron) and the business patronized to enter for weekly prizes
- Make purchases at three retail or experience-based businesses and three dining establishments (six places total), then send photos of their buttons and receipts to info@downtownakron.com to enter for the Downtown Advocate Prize, two tickets to either The Great Escape Room or The Nightlight Cinema and a $50 Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card
- Make purchases at seven retail or experience-based businesses and seven dining establishments, then send photos of their buttons and receipts to info@downtownakron.com to enter for a grand prize—the Downtown Champion Prize, which will include a one-night stay at the BLU-Tique Hotel, two tickets to a show, and a $100 Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card
- Completist Prizes: Everyone who enters to win the Downtown Champion Prize by submitting 14 receipts will automatically receive a Completist Prize (while supplies last)
For lists of retail, experience, and dining establishments located in the 49-block Downtown Akron Special Improvement District, visit downtownakron.com.
Holiday Markets
Several special holiday markets are planned for this season:
Zeber-Martell Gallery and Clay Studio's Holiday Open House: This open house is November 15, from 10 am to 6 pm, featuring special gift sets, brand new ornaments and jewelry, and familiar holiday favorites. Plus, each customer will receive a bonus ornament with their purchase.
Missing Falls Brewery Holiday Bazaar: This Small Business Saturday tradition takes place in Missing Falls Brewery’s event space and in the halls of Canal Place. Patrons can sip on craft beer while perusing handmade goods. It is happening this year on Saturday, November 29, from 12 to 6 pm.
All the Creatures – An Alternative Holiday Market: This special event also takes place inside Missing Falls Brewery, and it will feature a selection of alternative goods that is markedly odd, eccentric and spooky. It runs 2 - 7 pm on Saturday, December 13.
45th Annual E.J. Thomas Christmas Arts & Crafts Show: This annual arts and crafts show runs from December 5 to December 7 inside E. J. Thomas Hall, and features 100+ artists and craftspeople selling their wares. General admission costs $5.
Artists Sunday Weekend: Summit Artspace is partnering with Akron Bazaar and Lock 3 to bring an extensive holiday market to an indoor space at downtown’s central park. It will run November 28 from 5 to 9 pm and Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30, from 10 am to 4 pm. Support local makers, and enjoy Lock 3’s ice skating, holiday window displays and a warm beverage from Evelyn’s.
Northside Marketplace specials: The marketplace will be open all weekend for Small Business Saturday and Artists Sunday, offering specials like free samples from Indigo Lake Sauce Co., gluten-free cookie decorating with Picket Fences Bakery, a DIY body scrub workshop with My Eco Shop, tea tasting with Liquid Lab & Studio and cocktail classes with NOMZ.
Art x Love: This downtown gallery will be open on Small Business Saturday and Artists Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm with work on display and for sale by 30+ artists.
Additional information about downtown markets and other events is available at https://www.downtownakron.com/calendar.
Additional Shop Small Resources
Downtown Akron Partnership’s Shop Small page is a hub of resources for supporting local businesses. It features links to curated shopping and dining guides, as well as information about the Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Card Program, launched in fall 2023 as a neighborhood-wide gift card program. Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Cards are valid at 26 downtown businesses and counting, which run the gamut from restaurants and shops to entertainment venues.
Companies and other organizations with an EIN can purchase Downtown Akron Dollars E-Gift Cards in bulk at a discount as gifts for employees, clients, incentives and promotions. For more information, visit the Shop Small page on Downtown Akron Partnership’s website: https://www.downtownakron.com/explore/support-local
About Downtown Akron Partnership
The mission of Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) is to promote and build a vibrant and valuable downtown. DAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people, activity, business and a thriving civic life to the heart of Akron. Through strategic marketing, clean and safe programs and management of downtown's resources, DAP works to promote downtown as a gathering place in the center of our community.
DAP's members include property owners, business leaders and government officials who want to improve the image of downtown as a safe, convenient location for businesses, working professionals and families. DAP is governed by a board of trustees as diverse as the interests of our city. DAP receives general operating support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Akron Community Foundation and GAR Foundation.