What Should Aurora Small Businesses Plan For in Q4 2026? A Local Marketing Calendar

Last updated: October 2026 · By Kelly Noble Mirabella, Fractional Social Media Director and Founder of Stellar Media Marketing (Aurora, CO)

Quick answer: Aurora small businesses should plan Q4 2026 around five fixed dates: Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving (November 26), Small Business Saturday (November 28), GivingTuesday (December 1) and Christmas (December 25). Set Google Business Profile holiday hours by early November, ask for reviews before Thanksgiving, and tie posts to local events like ICE! at Gaylord Rockies.

Here is the calendar I use with my own clients, built from dates I checked on official pages.

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Why does an Aurora business need a Q4 plan by mid-October?

Because the busiest six weeks of the year arrive faster than most owners can react, and the content that works in late November has to be shot in October.

The other reason is your Google Business Profile. In my last 20 free social media audits for Colorado businesses, 18 had a stale Google Business Profile. Q4 is when that costs the most, because holiday shoppers check your hours and recent posts before they drive over.

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What is on the Aurora Q4 2026 calendar, date by date?

This is the working calendar, mid-October through December. Dates marked "verified" came from the official or organizer page linked. Everything else is a recurring event: confirm the 2026 date before you post about it.

1. October 15 to 31: fall and Halloween content. Nick's Fall Fest at Nick's Garden Center runs October 1 to 31 on Visit Aurora's 2026 events list, which also lists the Boo N' Brew Candy Crawl at Town Center at Aurora (no date posted yet). Halloween falls on a Saturday this year. Havana Street businesses have hosted Halloween events before (On Havana Street backed a trick or treat and costume contest at the Gardens on Havana in 2024), so check with On Havana Street for 2026 plans.
2. Week of November 2: lock in holiday hours. Set Google Business Profile special hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's now, while you are thinking clearly. Details in the next section.
3. Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day (verified). The federal holiday schedule confirms the date. With Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, a veteran or military discount post is expected here, not optional. Post it November 9 so people can plan.
4. Thursday, November 12: City of Aurora Veterans Salute (verified). The city's event page lists 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, with a sponsor and vendor showcase. If you want to be in the room, ask about sponsorship this month.
5. Mid to late November: Southlands Holiday Hometown Parade, tree lighting and The Pond (recurring). Southlands has run its parade and tree lighting on Main Street and Town Square for years, and it has traditionally kicked off The Pond ice rink season (the Sentinel covered the sixth annual event in 2015). It usually lands on a Saturday before Thanksgiving. I could not find a published 2026 date, so confirm with Southlands before you build a post around it. Town Center at Aurora's Santa's Grand Arrival and tree lighting is also on Visit Aurora's 2026 list without a date.
6. Friday, November 20: ICE! opens at Gaylord Rockies (verified). Gaylord Hotels announced ICE! featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas runs November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Nearby restaurants and shops: "before or after ICE!" posts write themselves.
7. Week of November 16: your main review push. Ask happy customers before the Thanksgiving rush buries your email.
8. Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving (verified). A short thank-you post with a real photo of your team beats any designed graphic.
9. Saturday, November 28: Small Business Saturday (verified). The SBA lists Saturday, November 28, 2026. Announce your offer by November 21 and post again that morning.
10. Tuesday, December 1: GivingTuesday (verified). GivingTuesday's site confirms December 1, 2026. Spotlight a local nonprofit you actually support, and tag them.
11. Early December: Aurora Municipal Center tree lighting (recurring). In 2025 the city lit its tree on December 2 at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, with the Merry Makers Market inside Aurora Central Library, per the Denver Gazette. Watch the city's site for the 2026 date.
12. December 7 to 18: deadlines and second review ask. Last day to order, last day to book, gift card reminders.
13. Friday, December 25: Christmas (verified). Double-check your special hours for December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1.
14. December 26 to 31: year in review. Your best customer moments of 2026, and a thank-you. Southlands' Noon Year's Eve is on Visit Aurora's 2026 list if you serve families.

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"Every December I watch local businesses post generic 'Happy Holidays' graphics while their Google profile still shows regular hours on Christmas Day. Plan it in October, shoot it before Thanksgiving, and your November posts will look like your business instead of a template." Kelly Noble Mirabella, Fractional Social Media Director and Founder, Stellar Media Marketing

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When should you update Google Business Profile holiday hours?

Set them the first week of November, for every holiday through January 1, even if your hours are not changing. Google's own special hours help page says it's a good idea to confirm your hours for official holidays even if they match your regular hours, because it makes clear to customers that your hours are accurate.

Google also notes on its holidays page that a warning may appear on your profile telling people your hours might differ on listed holidays. Setting special hours in advance is how you replace that doubt with a clear answer. Pair it with weekly Google posts. My guide to Google Business Profile posts that get more calls covers what to write.

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When should you ask for reviews in Q4?

Ask twice: the week of November 16 and again the week of December 7. Recency matters. BrightLocal's 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey found 74% of consumers look for reviews written in the last three months, and 83% of people asked to leave a review went on to leave one.

To make the ask easy, turn each finished job into content too, as I explain in how to turn one customer job into 10 pieces of content.

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What should you post each month of Q4?

Each month has one job. Here is the short version:

• October: show up locally. Fall events, Halloween, behind the scenes of holiday prep. Pull from my 25 local content ideas for Aurora businesses.
• November: give people a reason to come in. Veteran thank-yous, Small Business Saturday offers, ICE! tie-ins. Restaurants should also read how to fill tables on weeknights.
• December: deadlines, gratitude and proof. Order cutoffs, customer stories, reviews, year in review.

If you only have one afternoon, spend it on a content day in late October and bank a month of photos and video. Here's what a content day looks like and whether it's worth it. Not sure where to post? Start with which platform an Aurora business should use.

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Want someone else to run your Q4 calendar?

I'm a Fractional Social Media Director based in the Southlands area of Aurora, with 18 years in social media marketing. I handle strategy, content, posting, weekly Google Business Profile posts and reporting myself, and Denver-area clients get special pricing on content days and packages.

Book a video call and we'll map out your November and December, or see my services and packages.

Related reading: what happens in the first 90 days of social media management in Aurora and how to use Google Business Profile posts to get more calls.

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Frequently asked questions

When is Small Business Saturday 2026?

Saturday, November 28, 2026, per the SBA. Announce your offer at least a week ahead and post again that morning so it shows up in feeds when people are deciding where to go.

Should my business post on Veterans Day if we don't offer a discount?

Yes, if you have something genuine to say. A thank-you featuring a veteran on your team or a customer (with permission) works better than a flag graphic. With Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, your audience includes a lot of military families.

Do I need to set Google holiday hours if we're open normal hours?

Yes. Google recommends confirming your hours for official holidays even when they don't change, so customers know the listing is accurate.

When are the Southlands tree lighting and The Pond opening in 2026?

I could not find a published 2026 date when I wrote this. The parade and tree lighting has usually been a Saturday before Thanksgiving, so check Southlands' own channels in early November before you promote it.

Is it too late to plan Q4 content in mid-October?

No, but it is the last comfortable window. Shoot your photos and video by early November, and you'll have real content ready for Small Business Saturday and December.

Changelog: October 2026, first published.