Warm up with coffee or hot cocoa while searching for some cool deals in downtown Elizabethton this Saturday.

The Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with The Coffee Company to give away a free coffee or hot chocolate to the first 50 people who complete a downtown Elizabethton shopping mission on November 25.

The special occasion is Small Business Saturday, which was created by American Express in 2010 to encourage holiday shoppers to spend money locally with family-owned or independent businesses. Communities around the country will be hosting Shop Small Saturday in contrast with the more corporate Black Friday and Cyber Monday events the same week.

Within the downtown Elizabethton shopping district, a total of 50 Shop Small shopping bags containing Shop Small passports will be placed in participating businesses. Those participating businesses are Big John’s Closeout, Blue River Studio, Cannon’s Fine Home Furnishings, Cottage Boutique, Crazy Creek Co-op, The Dressing Room, Fetteroff’s, HIS Space Christian Gifts and More, Lady Bug Cottage and Antiques, Lingerfelt Drug and Gift Center, Ritchie’s Furniture and Appliance, and Simple Blessings General Store.

In order to win a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, shoppers must obtain one of the shopping bags with a passport inside and then make purchases at participating businesses to fill up the passport with stamps. The completed passport can then be redeemed at The Coffee Company, 444 E. Elk Ave., for a coffee or hot chocolate on that same day.

Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Director Tonya Stevens hopes the activity gives businesses in downtown Elizabethton an economic boost.

“We have had several new businesses pop up in the downtown recently,” she said. “We want to support those new folks, but we also hope this event encourages shoppers to visit with those long-standing downtown businesses as well.”

While the Chamber is excited to facilitate the activity, Stevens wants all the attention to be focused on downtown businesses.

“Here at the Chamber, we strive to support small business everyday,” Stevens said. “Shop Small Saturday is their special day. We hope everyone comes out on November 25 to celebrate and support small businesses along with us.”

For more information about the Shop Small Saturday event in downtown Elizabethton, contact the Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce at 423-547-3850.