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 Enjoy Evanston: Shop Small This Holiday Season
With the holidays coming up, gifts are on everyone’s mind. When you shop small, your dollars stay in the community providing jobs and opportunities for all. Get into the holiday spirit and enjoy some of the Small Business Saturday events in Evanston’s business districts.
Saturday, November 30: Small Business Saturday
Central Street: Show your support, shop small on Central Street and give a gift from the heart. Three lucky winners will receive $100 to the business of their choosing by participating in our Fan Favorites social media photo contest! Learn more.
Main Dempster Mile: Spend $100 and receive a gift bag. Enjoy a special holiday trolley ride from Main Dempster Mile to Downtown Evanston for even more shopping! Learn More
Downtown Evanston: Downtown Evanston is preparing its annual Holiday Shopping Passport to help guide your local shopping experience, and offer a gift that gives back to the Evanston business community. Spend $100 (or more) at participating Downtown Evanston shops on Saturday, November 30 and you'll receive a $20 Evanston Gift Card -- so you can do even more local shopping! Learn more.
For more, explore this list of holiday events and the Enjoy Evanston calendar.
 “Holiday Parking: Free for 2024” Promotion
The City is making local holiday shopping easy this year by offering a “Holiday Parking: Free for 2024” promotion. Community members and visitors to Evanston’s business districts will enjoy up to two hours of free parking daily from November 27 through January 1, 2025.
How to get free parking: Users can simply enter the code "Holiday2024" while using the Park Evanston app to access two hours of free street parking. This offer is valid for app users once per day per account.
 Shop Evanston Made Holiday Market
Get excited for the 4th annual Shop Evanston Made Holiday Market! Located at 924 Davis St., the market will be open December 5 - 22. Shop for original art, jewelry, ceramics, wearables, textiles, stationery, home goods, and more! Evanston Made artists will also host workshops and special events. More information.
 Photo credit: Becca Heuer
Enjoy the holiday season in Ashland Arts
You don’t have to travel far to get into the holiday spirit. We’ve put together a fun day/evening in Ashland Arts with a few spots for you to enjoy.
Gift Yourself a New Look
Nestled in a charming corner of Ashland Ave., Renee Feldman Hair Studio offers the perfect holiday pampering experience, specializing in hair styling, nail services, and color treatments. Reserve your appointment early to secure your preferred time slot, and begin your Ashland Arts adventure feeling refreshed with either a professional blowout or a complete style transformation to welcome the new year. Learn More
Indulge in Something Savory
Skip the holiday kitchen stress and treat yourself to Soul & Smoke's award-winning BBQ. Order ahead a few platters of smoked meats and hearty soul food sides for takeout or catering or gather with coworkers, friends, and family in their newly renovated Evanston location. Soul and Smoke is sure to make your holiday dining memorable and effortless. Learn More
Make Your Own Holiday Headquarters
Experience craft beer at its finest at Double Clutch Brewery. Schedule your holiday party with coworkers or meet up with friends to unwind during happy hour. The Double Clutch taproom is the perfect place to soak up all of the cozy holiday vibes. Learn More
We hope you enjoy a fun, safe night out with your significant other, friends, or family, or take on this guide solo! There are so many places to enjoy and discover in Evanston. Check out our previous guides on Howard District or Maple Foster and stay tuned for more guides for a night out.
See below for upcoming events and start planning your weekends! You can find the full calendar of events on the Enjoy Evanston website.
Downtown Evanston
Central Street
Ashland Arts
Main-Dempster Mile
Howard Street
West End
Enjoy Evanston
Have a upcoming event?
Help us add to our calendar! We encourage you to submit all your upcoming events through our website.
Please review the following submission guidelines:
- Only public events may be listed
- Cannot be solely retail in nature
- Cannot be solely religious or political in nature
- Cannot be solely fundraisers or networking events
- Should be leisure time or recreational activities
Event eligibility is also evaluated on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we are only able to accept event listings in English.
 Mark Glats, Councilmember Kelly, Harry Major, Dave Glatt, Elizabeth Montgomery, and Melody Miller.
Meet Dave Glatt, Dave's Italian Kitchen
Meet one of Evanston's legacy business owners, Dave Glatt, founder of Dave’s Italian Kitchen, a staple of the community since 1972. Now located at 815 Noyes St., Dave’s has been a beloved spot for homemade Italian cuisine for over 50 years. Watch an interview with him.
Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer Melody Miller, along with producer Elizabeth (Beth) Montgomery, were at Dave's Italian Kitchen earlier this week filming a documentary about the iconic business. Fun fact: Beth, the producer, was Dave's very first employee!
 Enjoy: Legacy Businesses during the holidays
Evanston has always been a thriving center for small business. This holiday season, join us in shopping at some of our legacy businesses that have served Evanston for 20+ years to preserve our economic and cultural fabric.
Holiday treats and goodies
Bennison’s | Downtown: Larry Bennison brought his baking savvy to Evanston from Janesville, Wisconsin in 1938. His “Dairy State” roots led to high-quality offerings in the bakery, made with cream, real butter, fresh buttermilk , and freshly cracked eggs. In the late 60s, Guy Downer bought the bakery and to this day, his family continues the tradition. Bennison Bakery is our go-to spot for cakes, pies, and more. Stock up on your favorite pies this holiday season for a great after-dinner treat.
Tag’s Bakery | Central Street: This family-owned bakery has been in Evanston over 85 years! Find everything you need for the holidays, from traditional cakes to seasonal favorites including Bûche de Noël, cupcakes, petit fours, florentines, and all your holiday cookie needs! This holiday season, indulge in their made-from-scratch hand-crafted cookies, cakes, pastries, and more!
 What do YOU enjoy about Evanston?
With ten unique business districts, there is something for everyone to enjoy! We want to hear about your faves. Tell us about your favorite places for health and fitness, your favorite store or art gallery to explore, or your favorite place to eat! Send us an email about your favorite spots at hello@enjoyevanston.com.
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