BENNINGTON — Shoppers from far and wide came out to celebrate a cold but sunny Small Business Saturday in both downtown Manchester and along a celebratory Main Street in Bennington.

Visitors and locals alike took advantage of the horse-drawn carriage rides in Bennington and also listened to holiday carolers in Victorian costumes, consumed free hot cocoa, and said hello to Santa as they shopped and strolled. Storekeepers along Main Street were feeling optimistic about the holiday season and the crowds coming in to browse in their stores.

“This is going really well,” said Ashley Reherman, owner of The Local. “It's nice to see Main Street so packed. I had trouble parking, which is wonderful. People have been very nice. It makes me very happy.”

“Everybody says the economy is iffy, but we se

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