If you’re either working during it or crazy enough to shop for those pointless “deals”, everyone dreads Black Friday for obvious reasons. With this being said, Small Business Saturday (November 26) is definitely a better alternative than risking one’s life for a discount. It’s the ideal opportunity to shop locally and purchase homemade gifts for a loved one or even yourself. It’s also a lot more beneficial for the economy and we all know that could use a little improvement these days. One of the best ways to partake in Small Business Saturday is by checking out Buttonwoods Brewery’s 4th Annual Holiday Bazaar that’s going on from 1pm to 6pm.

The event will be taking place in the brewery’s tasting room with beers from both Buttonwoods and their housemates Origin Beer Project being made available to consume, if you’re over the age of 21 of course. They’ll also have various kinds of merchandise for sale.

“This year our Holiday Bazaar will feature eight local unique artisans,” says Buttonwoods’ Tasting Room Manager Jennie Paquin. “We invited some of our talented friends, family and regulars to set up shop in the tasting room on Small Business Saturday for an afternoon of sippin' and shoppin'. Beers will be available from both Buttonwoods and Origin Beer Project throughout the event. We will also have merch and gift cards that make great gifts for the beer lovers in your life. Lumpia Bros. will be our food vendor for the day, serving traditional and nontraditional Filipino spring rolls, noodles and rice.”

The vendors at the event will have a wide range of things to offer. Paper Moon Designs will have slightly inappropriate yet charming cards, stationary and gifts while Seashells and Sentiments will have Christmas ornaments made out of seashells, greeting cards and candles. Local cheesemongers Edgewood Cheese Shop are going to have all kinds of meats and cheeses to take home along with locally made housewares and gifts. Monty’s Woodshop is a local woodworker specializing in craft beer wooden accessories which will be for sale and Cape Cod Oyster Painting will be selling original acrylic and watercolor paintings. Last but not least, unique homemade soaps from Beach Witch Bars and felted and upcycled clothing, gifts and linoleum prints courtesy of Escarghost Studios will be available for purchase as well.

The Holiday Bazaar at Buttonwoods Brewery promises to have something for everyone ranging from an eclectic relative to a cheese-loving friend to your favorite craft beer aficionado. These characteristics I just mentioned could describe whoever is reading the article and lets be honest, if you’re eclectic and a fan of cheese and craft beer then you’re probably pretty fun to hang out with. This event surely beats the chaos of Black Friday and there really isn’t a better way to spend Saturday afternoon in November around these parts. Stop on by 530 Wellington Avenue in Cranston to see what the fuss is all about. For more details about Buttonwoods Brewery, log on to their website at
buttonwoodsbrewery.com.