What is the Small Business Saturday "Cookie Crawl"?

What you need to know about the Cookie Crawl

Small Business Saturday Cookie Crawl focuses on our small town businesses while giving back to those in need in our community.

Many people have been asking - what is the cookie crawl - and how does it work?  
We started this event in 2020 during COVID-19 when small business owners were struggling to keep their doors open.  We borrowed the inspiration for this event from Seneca Main Street as a way to safely get at least 150 people downtown and in the doors of the small business owners who had such a rough year.  We figured - only 150 people over 4 blocks on both sides of the street would be an acceptable amount for social distancing.  The concept is similar to a pub crawl - but better - with cookies!  

Here's how it works.  You can purchase a ticket for only $10 from M&J's Coffeehouse - or online for $12 (you will understand why the additional online charge in a minute)  The day of the event - Saturday, November 25th - you will come and check in  at the depot at 618 State Street and pick up your special cookie collection bag, list of the participating businesses, and their specials for the day.  From there - you can either start at the end or start at the beginning and visit all of the participating businesses, collect your cookies and get a little Christmas shopping done while you are there.  That's it!  Pretty simple!  It is a great way to help celebrate our small businesses that give back to our community the entire year - and better yet - it can help get you out of the house for a while and walk off all of that delicious Thanksgiving goodness!  It is a great event for friends, families, groups or just about anyone!

But did you know, the Cookie Crawl helps give back to Augustan's in need?

We wanted to not only help our small businesses but also our community members.  So the money that we collect for the tickets all goes back to organizations that help children and families in need in our community.  We split the proceeds between Bright Futures Augusta and Core Community Augusta to make sure every family in Augusta has a little hope for Christmas.  (See why we charge a little more online?  It's for a good cause!!)   These amazing organizations rely on the extra funding to make a family's Christmas a little bit better.

Who all is involved with this?

First and foremost - we have to thank our sponsors for this event - Marketplace 67010 - Citizens Bank of Kansas - and Security 1st Title.  Without their help - we couldn't get all the things we need to make this event happen.  Next - we have to thank all of the local downtown businesses that provide all of the yummy cookies!  This year we have 23 participating businesses who also do this to help give back to the community.  They provide the cookies at their own cost.  And of course - we have to thank the Go! Augusta Board and Volunteers that help do all of the planning, organizing, and execution of this event.  

So how do I participate?

It's simple - all you have to do is make sure that you purchase your cookie crawl ticket in advance.  We still have about 60 tickets available - but don't wait - you don't want them to be sold out.  If we have any extra tickets the day of the event - they will be first come first served.  We sell out every year - so please don't wait.  Once you have your tickets - check in to the depot between 10 and 11:30 on Saturday and go have a ball!