Niwot's Out & About returns to celebrate small businesses

Saturday Sept. 23 brought the return of Niwot's annual "Out & About," a day to celebrate the small businesses of Niwot. Sponsored by the Niwot Business Association (NBA), this annual event brings out tents and stands featuring Niwot businesses and live music along Second Avenue and in Cottonwood Square.

Out & About was started last year as a way to showcase the various goods and gifts from businesses in Niwot, and to bring support and awareness for Niwot's charming business community.

Musicians, including Heidi Alina, Kevin Dooley, Riley Martin, and Tony Crank, played in front of Winot Coffee Company, Cimmini's Italian Restaurant, (https://cimminisniwot.com/) Niwot Emporium, and Niwot Market (https://niwotmarket.com/) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors stopped by The Old Oak Coffeehouse (https://www.theoldoakcoffeehouse.com/) to get a free sample of coffee, then walked to Few of a Kind Vintage and Mercantile (https://www.fewofakindvintage.com/) for some free apple cider wassail.

The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop (https://www.twjbookshop.com/) hosted a storytime with author Elizabeth Everett who read her books, "This is the Sun," "Twinkle Twinkle Daytime Star," and "Spheres All Year" for children at 11 a.m.

At Osmosis Art and Architecture, (https://www.osmosisartgallery.com/) a stand by the sidewalk with various goods and art supplies enticed passersby to stop and come in. Anne Postle, the owner of Osmosis, and Heidi Pate, an artist featured at Osmosis, commented, "It's a beautiful autumn day, we're looking forward to people stopping by, and it's a great day to be out and about in Niwot!"

In Cottonwood Square, Inkberry Books (https://www.inkberrybooks.com/) held a sidewalk sale where for only five dollars, customers could fill any bag with as many books as they could fit. Other books were priced as low as two dollars.

The businesses located in the Niwot Market, including Pebble Art Jewelry, (https://www.pebbleartjewelry.com/) The Nook, (https://niwotmarket.com/the-nook) and Belle Terre Floral, (https://www.belleterrefloral.com/) came outside to sell their wares alongside a farm stall from Squeak and Squawk Farm (https://www.facebook.com/squeakandsquawkfarm/).

Overall, the beautiful weather and live music made for a lovely weekend venture. "It's a great way for people to get out on a weekend and enjoy small vendors," said Pate.