November 14 - December 14

Downtown Albany

Small Business Saturday in downtown Albany is brought to you by Hudson Valley Credit Union.

Shop at Downtown Albany Businesses and Get Rewarded This Holiday Season 

Presented by Hudson Valley Credit Union 

 

Celebrate the holiday shopping season in downtown Albany! Local businesses are offering special holiday promotions, discounts, and events, and you could win big just by shopping small. 

 

From November 14 through December 14, shop at participating downtown Albany businesses, save your receipts, and enter for a chance to win gift cards and prizes valued at up to $500, presented by Hudson Valley Credit Union. 

 

Whether you're shopping for holiday gifts, grabbing a bite to eat, or discovering a new local favorite, there's plenty of reason to shop small and support downtown Albany this holiday season. 

Shop Small, Win Big: Enter to Win Downtown Albany Prizes 

Shopping local comes with a little extra excitement this holiday season! Spend $20 or more at a downtown Albany small business between November 14 and December 14, 2026, and enter our sweepstakes for a chance to win. 

 

There are multiple opportunities to win gift cards and goodies from downtown Albany businesses.

people under present at quackenbush square

How to Enter Shop Small, Win Big!

Entering is easy: 

  1. Shop local: Spend $20 or more at a small business in downtown Albany beginning Saturday, November 14. 

  1. Save your receipt: Each $20+ receipt (or e-receipt) from an eligible business can be entered for a chance to win!

  1. Submit your entry: Complete the entry form below and upload a photo of your receipt, or an image of your e-receipt. 

  1. Enter again: You can enter up to ten times.** Each qualifying receipt submitted counts as one entry. 

  1. Get double the entries on Small Business Saturday: When you shop and submit your receipt on Small Business Saturday, it counts as two entries, doubling your entries and chances to win!  

*No Purchase Necessary to Enter or Win. To enter without making a purchase, submit your name and email address using this online entry form. 

** Entries that exceed the maximum entry limit of ten will not be counted.

Additional contest rules:

  1. Submitted receipts must be from eligible Downtown Albany BID member businesses. For a list of eligible businesses, go to downtownalbany.org/shop and downtownalbany.org/dine. Ineligible receipts will not be counted as valid entries.
  2. Purchases and submissions must be made during the official contest term (after 12:00 AM on 11/14/26, and by or before 11:59 PM on 12/14/26.) Any purchases or submissions made outside the official contest term will not be counted as valid entries.
  3. Two (2) weekend winners will be selected at random from all valid entries on each of the following dates:  11/23/26, 11/30/26, 12/7/26, and 12/14/26. Each weekend winner will be awarded a $50 Downtown Albany e-Gift Card.
  4. The Grand Prize winner will be selected at random from all valid entries and contacted on the week of 12/14/2026.
  5. All winners will be contacted at the email address or phone number provided in the contact form and must respond within 72 hours to claim their prize. If no response is received, prize(s) may be forfeit.

Shop Small, Win Big! is organized and managed solely by the Downtown Albany BID, and individual businesses are not required to answer questions or provide assistance related to this program. Please direct all questions about Shop Small, Win Big! to the Downtown Albany BID team at [email protected].

 

SUBMIT YOUR RECEIPT HERE

people shopping at Fort Orange General Store

Weekly Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to eight winners between Saturday, November 14 and Monday, December 14: 

  • $50 Downtown Albany Gift Card  

Winners will be announced on Mondays, Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. 

 

The Grand Prize  

One lucky shopper will win: 

  • $100 Downtown Albany Gift Card 

  • A Shop Small, Win Big prize pack featuring gift cards and prizes from Downtown Albany small businesses valued at $400 

The Grand Prize winner will be announced the week of December 14.

 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

 

Shop Small, Win Big is presented by Hudson Valley Credit Union. 

Where to Shop Small in Downtown Albany 

Looking for somewhere to start? Explore Downtown Albany's local restaurants, retailers, and small businesses. 

From unique gifts and local finds to great food and everyday essentials, downtown Albany has plenty of ways to shop small this holiday season.

Small Business Saturday Deals and Promotions in Downtown Albany 

Looking for holiday shopping deals in Albany? Downtown businesses are celebrating the season with special discounts, promotions, limited-edition products, and holiday events. 

 

Check back regularly as we update this page with the latest holiday deals, shopping specials, and events from Downtown Albany businesses.

More Chances to Win: Deck the Hall-bany Holiday Market and Festival I Saturday, November 28 

Small Business Saturday falls on the same day as the second Deck the Hall-bany Holiday Market and Festival in downtown Albany! Vendors will be randomly selecting a few lucky shoppers to win $25 Shake Shack gift cards, courtesy of Shake Shack. 

 

Then stroll through Downtown and start shopping — it’s a festive day filled with entertainment, holiday cheer, and the perfect opportunity to support local. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

When is Small Business Saturday in Albany, NY? 

Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 28, 2026. The Downtown Albany Shop Small, Win Big sweepstakes runs from November 14 through December 14, 2026. 

 

How do I enter the Downtown Albany Small Business Saturday sweepstakes? 

Spend at least $20 at a downtown Albany small business, save your receipt, and submit it through the online entry form. Each qualifying receipt submitted counts as one entry. Participants can submit up to ten entries. 

* No Purchase Necessary to Enter or Win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. To enter without making a purchase, submit your name and email address using the online entry form. 

 

Can I enter more than once? 

Yes! Participants can submit up to ten entries. Each qualifying receipt submitted counts as one entry. 

 

What can I win? 

Shop Small Prizes include a $50 Downtown Albany Gift Card. The Grand Prize includes a $100 Downtown Albany Gift Card and a Shop Small, Win Big prize pack featuring gift cards and prizes from local businesses. 

 

When will the winners be announced? 

Shop Small prize winners will be announced Mondays, Nov. 23, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. The grand prize winner will be announced on Thursday, December 17.

 

Where can I find participating businesses? 

Explore our Downtown Albany restaurant directory and retail and services directory to discover local businesses. 

 

Small Business Saturday in downtown Albany is brought to you by Hudson Valley Credit Union.

HVCU logo     

The downtown Albany BID also thanks Pioneer for providing additional support for Small Business Saturday.