NILES — By 10 o’clock Saturday morning, the Grand LV in downtown Niles was overflowing with Christmas spirit.

As guests walked into the main floor of the downtown event venue, they were greeted by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and mimosas served by the Brass Eye. The scent of fresh baked goods and coffee emanated from Gabrizio’s Italian Café and Bakery as families posed for photos with Santa.

Guests could sip on these drinks as well as craft cocktails made by Iron Shoe Distillery while perusing two floors filled with more than 30 local artisans.

The Grand LV co-owner Melanie Kennedy said she and her husband, Donny Kennedy, decided to host the event as a way to participate in Small Business Saturday and give small business retailers a place to sell their products.

“We want to utilize this building when it’s not being used for other events,” Melanie said. “We want to do more of this — bringing the community into this building.”

Kelsey Johns, owner of Kelsey Leigh Designs, set up shop on the first floor of the craft show, right next to booths hosted by her mother and mother-in-law. Johns previously owned A Lovely Nest in downtown Niles before closing the brick and mortar to spend more time with her family. Today, she operates her business primarily online, selling items on Etsy and through subscription boxes on Facebook, but she still appreciates the opportunity to get out and sell face-to-face at craft fairs like the Local is the New Black show.

“It gets us out into the community, and we’re able to provide some cute gifts in time for Christmas,” she said, standing behind more than 500 pairs of earrings, each handmade. “I’ve been working on this for weeks.”

Throughout the six-hour craft fair, more than 500 people shopped handmade apparel, holiday décor, homemade soap, candles and more. Four hours into the craft fair, popular cookie dough business The Dough Parlor had sold out of stock.

“Events like these get [small business owners] some visibility in the community,” said Kristin Bivens, of Niles, who owns Wicked Pop Candle Co. “It also provides a sense of community for the vendors.”

Bivens, who has been selling candles at craft shows and online for several years, said she had her most successful sales day to date.

Bivens’ husband, Justin Flagel, was the coordinator of the city’s Small Business Saturday efforts. Hosted the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is meant to highlight local businesses in a season where many shoppers frequent box stores and order presents online. Niles Main Street began participating in the event 10 years ago, and organizers called this year’s event the most successful to date.

“I think word around the event is growing,” said Flagel, who has facilitated Small Business Saturday efforts for several years. “The goal is to make it the kickoff to the holidays in Niles. With that in mind, we put a lot of effort into making it an event, and I think that’s starting to take hold.”

From the time the craft show started on Third Street to long after Santa rode in on a fire truck at dusk, downtown Niles streets were filled with cars, and sidewalks with people.

Pizza Transit owner Sarah Brittin said Saturday’s sales far exceeded the 32-year-old business’ record sales day.

“Many of our guests came in with bags from the artisan market at the Grand LV and downtown shops,” Brittin said. “We’ve also become pretty famous for our creative pizzas and our customers loved trying all three of the one-day-only brunch pizzas we offered.”

As children greeted Santa Claus for the annual lighting of downtown, others shopped for Christmas trees sold by the Howard Township Fire Department on Second Street. Nearby, musicians provided entertainment at shops like Apothica Teas and Paris Soda Co., while local artists set up displays at The Brass Eye, and The Rage offered free crafts for children.

Flagel said he attributes much of the success of this year’s event to the business owners, who, as evidenced by the Grand LV’s event, are collaborating rather than competing with one another.

“You combine that with all the new businesses we have downtown, and combine that with the longtime business owners,” and Flagel said you have the recipe for a successful event. “These entrepreneurs, they’re not hobbyists. They’re out here to really make fun, cool things happen.”