Mindy Stoops of Misty Lane Performance Horses drives a horse-drawn carriage back into Diamond Park as part of Butler Downtown's Small Business Saturday.

A horse-drawn carriage, the hanging of festive lights and many searches for holiday gifts set the scene for Small Business Saturday in Butler.

The now-annual event, which is the day after Black Friday and two days before Cyber Monday, encourages consumers to supplement the two days of sales at big-box stores with patronage of small, local businesses — something of which there is no shortage in Butler.

The state-mandated business closures which shuttered many small businesses for several months this spring set a different backdrop Saturday, too, with the calls to support mom-and-pop stores amplified.

“We're calling it 'keep the buck in Butler,'” Jordan Grady, executive director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said. “They need us now more than ever.”

For Barbara and Kurt Sears, who recently moved to Butler from California, Small Business Saturday offered them the opportunity to not just support the local brick-and-mortar stores, but to explore what the area had to offer as well.After taking a carriage ride — and waiting on their daughter's family to do the same — the Sears sauntered down Main Street on one of the first truly brisk late fall days in Western Pennsylvania, searching for holiday gifts and taking in the surroundings.Seasons changingIn a sign of the Thanksgiving season turning to winter, two light gray draft horses, steered by a woman in a Santa coat, pulled a white carriage hauling riders around Diamond Park.The same carriage brought Santa Claus into Slippery Rock on Nov. 21, and now that Thanksgiving has ended — the official start of Christmas carol-playing in many households — the Christmas spirit was beginning to abound.

And the horses themselves in a sense represented the generosity of the season.“Both of those horses were rescued from a meat market,” said Pam Stoops, of Misty Lane Performance Horses, about the animals pulling the carriage.Signs of winter's impending approach were bountiful. Jeff Geibel of Butler Downtown and Grady, were setting up Christmas trees on behalf of Geibel's organization, and lights were being strung up in Diamond Park.Although Small Business Saturday lasts one day, and the holiday season a few months, Geibel encouraged residents to check out Main Street and other local businesses — not just for their wares, but for the experience of shopping local.“It's been a tough year, but there are still a lot of great businesses downtown,” he said. “Main Street still has a lot to offer. I encourage people to come check them out.”

Barb and Anna Blauser of Chicora turn in their Small Business Saturday passports to Branded in Butler co-owner Brendan O'Brien on Saturday. Shoppers could get their passport stamped at participating businesses to earn a chance at raffle prizes. Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to shop local.

Sean Harcar of Butler offers to help his daughter Aria,6, down from a horse carriage with his other daughter Sienna, 10, and partner Jamie Sears.