The holiday season is officially underway, and as Black Friday sales entice shoppers to big retailers, Okmulgee residents have a special opportunity to support their local community this weekend. The annual Cookie Crawl, a beloved Small Business Saturday tradition, is back to highlight the importance of shopping small and shopping local.

Small Business Saturday, a nationwide initiative founded by American Express, emphasizes the critical role small businesses play in communities across the United States. Okmulgee Main Street Director Melinda De Santo is encouraging residents to take part in this meaningful movement by showing their support for local shops. To make the day even sweeter, Okmulgee Main Street has partnered with the Okmulgee Times to host the Cookie Crawl, a unique event combining holiday shopping with tasty treats. — How the Cookie Crawl Works Participants can begin their day by stopping at the Okmulgee Times office, located at 320 W. 6th Street, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. There, they can pick up a free official Cookie Crawl box to hold their collection of cookies.

Next, shoppers can visit each participating business to collect a cookie (one per participant per location) while exploring what these local establishments have to offer. By the end of the day, participants will have a box full of delicious cookies and the satisfaction of supporting small businesses in their community.

Participating businesses in this year’s Cookie Crawl include:

• Anchor Financial Services

• Bin Addicts

• Laci’s Nutrition Shoppe

• Landmark For All Generations • Legendz Adult Care

• The Nail Room

• OK Staudt Jewelers

• Okmulgee Main Street

• Okmulgee Times

• Roses & Lace

• Wonderfully Made Therapy “By the end of your shopping day, you will have a box full of unique cookies and meet some of our amazing business owners along the way,” Katina Holland of the Okmulgee Times said. “Shopping local is so important to our town in many ways, especially during this holiday season. We think this will be an added bonus to help encourage customers to stay here for their shopping needs.”

While shopping, participants can also take part in Okmulgee Main Street’s Sparkle Spree. Beginning Friday, customers will receive tickets from participating businesses for every purchase, earning chances to win holiday cash. It’s another incentive to keep dollars local and support small businesses throughout the season.

Small Business Saturday and events like the Cookie Crawl help strengthen the local economy, foster community spirit and celebrate the unique charm of Okmulgee’s businesses. With festive events like these, shopping local becomes a delightful way to kick off the holidays.

So grab your Cookie Crawl box, explore local shops and enjoy the sweet taste of community this Saturday. Let’s make this holiday season a time to remember by supporting the heart of Okmulgee – its small businesses.