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On Small Business Saturday, when many will flock to the malls and big box stores for big sales, Main Street Kent is aiming to lure shoppers to downtown Kent to support local businesses instead.

To mark Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30, Main Street Kent will have a “Sweet Finds Contest” from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., where shoppers can hunt for hidden “sweet treats” in designated downtown businesses and enter to win great prizes with their completed contest cards.

Participating businesses for the 2013 contest include: Belleria Pizza and Italian Restaurant, Dragonfly, Fresco, Gracylane, McKay Bricker Framing and Black Squirrel Gifts, Off the Wagon, Sue Nelson Designs, The Market Path, UniversiTees and Yogurt Vi. Participants can pick up an entry form at Earl’s Nest (located in Acorn Alley) and return it to the same location by 5 p.m. the same day to be entered to win hundreds of dollars in gift cards to downtown businesses. Free cookies and coffee, and live music also will be available at Earl’s Nest.

The night will be topped off with the illumination of the downtown holiday lights and decorations, and a business window lighting/decorating contest. The theme for the contest this year is “trains” and will be judged by local author Bruce Dzeda. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded with the following criteria in mind: creativity, relevance to theme, use of lights, originality, integration of Kent in display and integration of the business in the display.

Come downtown and see what the business owners create for their displays while enjoying a local shopping experience. Then come back to see Santa come to town on the train the following weekend, Dec. 7 at the Festival of Lights, hosted by the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce.

Main Street Kent is a non-profit organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Kent. It is an affiliate of the national Main Street program and the Heritage Ohio program.