Small Business Saturday

This holiday season we hope you'll join us in supporting our small business community as you look for that extra something special for family, friends, loved ones, and maybe even yourself. New London has an eclectic and cool scene of retailers, galleries, artisans, restaurants, and bars that are all run and staffed by folks from our community. We hope you'll swing through and support them early and often!

We're kicking it off right with Small Business Saturday on November 29th. Shops will have specials, sales, and more including some entertainment options. We hope you'll join us.

Stay tuned to this space for more details from some of our shops and restaurants.

Santa Shopping Stroll - Grab a map and explore the charming streets of downtown New London as you shop for holiday gifts. Check out the list of special offers from the businesses participating on that day. Make sure to visit all the locations to collect Christmas stamps on your map. Turn in your completed map to Flavour of Life for a chance to win a fabulous DNLA merchant gift basket. Enjoy this delightful day-long holiday shopping extravaganza!

New London, CT., December 26, 2025- The City of New London and the New London NAACP will have a ceremony tonight starting at 5:00 pm at the Parade Plaza to light the Kinara for the first night of Kwanzaa. We invite the community to come out and enjoy the celebration.

The colors of each candle have symbolic meanings. The black candle represents the African people, the red candles symbolize their struggles, and the green represents hope for the future. The number of candles represents the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Together, the candles are called the mishumaa saba. The candles are lit according to the numbering of the Principles:

Umoja (1)- (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Kujichagulia (2) - (Self-Determination)

Ujima (3) - (Collective Work and Responsibility)

Ujamaa (4)- (Cooperative Economics)

Nia (5) - (Purpose)

Kuumba (6) - (Creativity)

Imani (7) - (Faith)

The word kinara is a Swahili word that means candle holder. The seven candles represent the Seven Principles (or Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa. Red, green, and black are the symbolic colors of the holiday. During the week of Kwanzaa, a new candle is lit on the kinara each day.