Photo: Uncommon Grounds, Berkeley, CA. Courtesy: #DiscoveredinBerkeley campaign
Whether it is the food you put on your plate this holiday season, the restaurants you patronize, the gifts you buy, or the year-end performing arts events that you attend, there are things you can do to inspire change this holiday season, and one of the best ways to do that is by supporting local business.
Now more than ever, local businesses need our support this holiday season, and when you spend your dollars locally, not only are you supporting those businesses, you are also raising the overall economic activity because the dollars can be re-spent locally.
Here is a run-down of ideas to support local businesses all across Alameda and Contra Costa Counties this holiday season:
- Buy a local gift card: Visit and Shop Local Alameda Gift Card, Berkeley Bucks Gift Card, Shop Concord Card, We Love El Cerrito Gift Card, Fremont Gift Card, Hayward eGift Card, San Leandro Gift Card.
- Buy local gifts: Berkeley Holidays Gift Guide, Brentwood Maker’s Boulevard, Danville Gift Guide, Discover Dublin, Think Oakland First, Visit Tri-Valley.
- Shop local chefs: From My Heart to Your Table from Chef Rene Johnson of Blackberry Soul Fine Catering.
- Shop local manufacturers: Model No. Pop-up Store, ICA Concept Store.
- Go ice skating and shop: “Ice at the Veranda” Skating 2021, Walnut Creek on Ice.
- Attend and shop a winter stroll: Solano Avenue Winter Stroll.
- Shop local and attend a winter craft event: Pleasant Hill Winter Craft Event.
- Go out to dinner and attend a performance: Black Diamond Ballet: Nutcracker, A Richmond Nutcracker, Holiday Pops! – 2021 Holiday Pops.
- Support a local business and attend a holiday or new year mixer: Two Villages are Better Than One, After Hours Mixer, New Year Mixer, Holiday Networking Mixer.
- Shop local and celebrate the season: Danville Livery, Downtown Martinez Santa House, NewPark Mall
- Support a local farm and pick up a tree: Wonderland Trees.
- Visit the lights and shop local: Meek Mansion & McConaghy House.
- Go out to brunch and attend a family-friendly ball drop: Noon Year’s Eve.
- Write letters to Santa and shop local: Letters to Santa.
- Attend the artisan holiday market: Holiday Artisan Market.
- Attend a virtual event and make a donation: Music for Minors II.
- Donate to a Holiday Basket Program: Holiday Basket Program.