Saturday, November 28, 2026 · All day downtown
Shop Small Saturday with Santa
Downtown Rochester · Rochester, NH
On November 28, 2026, Santa comes to downtown Rochester to kick off the holiday season while local shops run Shop Small Saturday specials. Bring Santa a homemade cookie to enter a raffle for a $25 gift certificate to the downtown business of your choice.
Santa is coming to downtown Rochester for Shop Small Saturday! Rochester Main Street hosts Santa downtown to help kick off the holiday season while our local businesses take the lead with festive deals, treats, activities, and unique holiday experiences.
Santa wants cookies - without the crawl
Our downtown businesses are wonderfully busy on Shop Small Saturday, so we’ve said goodbye to the traditional Cookie Crawl and made things simpler - because we still don’t want to disappoint Santa.
Bring a homemade cookie downtown for Santa to taste. Each person who brings Santa a cookie is entered into a raffle, and one lucky baker wins a $25 gift certificate to the downtown business of their choice.
Come enjoy the holiday spirit, support local shops, and share a sweet treat with Santa.
Downtown businesses: planning something special for Shop Small Saturday? Let us know and we’ll help shoppers find you.
Shop Small Saturday with Santa: your questions answered
What is Shop Small Saturday in Rochester NH?
It's the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when downtown Rochester businesses offer special deals, treats, and holiday experiences - and Rochester Main Street hosts Santa downtown to kick off the season. Shopping small keeps holiday dollars in our community.
How does the Santa cookie raffle work?
Bring a homemade cookie downtown for Santa to taste. Everyone who brings Santa a cookie is entered into a raffle, and one lucky baker wins a $25 gift certificate to the downtown business of their choice.
What happened to the Cookie Crawl?
Our downtown businesses are wonderfully busy on Shop Small Saturday, so we simplified - instead of the traditional Cookie Crawl, we now invite everyone to bring Santa a homemade cookie for a chance to win.
Page updated July 17, 2026.
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Festival of Trees
Rochester Main Street's biggest holiday fundraiser runs December 2–4, 2026 in partnership with Studley's Flower Gardens. Stroll a forest of decorated trees, bid in the silent auction, shop the holiday vendor market, visit Santa, and enter raffles to win a fully decorated tree.
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Dec 4 – Dec 19 · Finale with Santa 11 AM – 2 PM at Central Square
Elf Off The Shelf
Part of the Santa Series, Elf Off The Shelf hides elves throughout downtown Rochester in early December. Find elves, fill out your passport, and trade it in with Santa at Central Square for raffle tickets - plus free photos with Santa and the Grinch at the finale.
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