Black Friday is Nov. 27. Riverchase Galleria hours, Santa photos, Market Noel Nov. 19-21, Small Business Saturday Nov. 28 and Hoover police traffic plans.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address; the dates below are for the 2026 season. Store and center hours are listed only as each center publishes them, and we add them here when they are posted. No prices or deals are listed.

Black Friday is Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, and Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28. Hoover’s holiday shopping centers on the Riverchase Galleria and the shopping centers along U.S. 31 and U.S. 280. Hoover police add officers, a mobile command center and manual traffic control around the Galleria and other centers for the season.

At a glance

  • Nov. 19-21: Market Noel holiday market at the Finley Center
  • Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving; see our Thanksgiving page for closings
  • Friday, Nov. 27: Black Friday; Galleria holiday hours not posted yet
  • Saturday, Nov. 28: Small Business Saturday
  • Galleria: 2000 Galleria Circle, 205-985-3019
  • Police non-emergency: 205-822-5300

Riverchase Galleria

The Riverchase Galleria, 2000 Galleria Circle, had not posted its Thanksgiving, Black Friday or December hours as of Oct. 17. Its hours page shows an 11 a.m. opening Monday to Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and it says individual stores and restaurants set their own hours. Mall walkers can come in from 7:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday.

Holiday notes from the mall’s own pages:

  • Santa photos are in Von Maur Court. Reservations are taken through whereissanta.com, and walk-ups are welcome every day until closing, according to the mall’s event page. The mall had not posted Santa’s 2026 arrival date when we checked.
  • Gift wrapping is offered for a two-week period over Christmas.
  • Strollers can be rented on the first floor near the north and south parking decks. The family restrooms and a nursing room are near the food court.
  • Mall gift cards are no longer sold online; existing cards are still honored.

Traffic, parking and safety

Each year the Hoover Police Department puts extra officers on duty for the shopping season, working from its mobile command center. In 2025 the department said those officers provide security inside the Galleria and other retail centers, patrol parking lots, and can adjust traffic flow by hand when roads around the centers back up.

The department’s parking lot safety tips:

  • Stay alert at ATMs and in parking lots, especially when walking alone.
  • Keep bags and valuables out of sight in the car, and lock the doors.
  • Do not show cash, jewelry or electronics in public.
  • If something does not feel right, go into a store or leave.

Buying or selling online? Hoover police list community meetup spots with video surveillance: the upper parking lot at City Hall, 100 Municipal Lane; Fire Station 7, 100 Inverness Parkway; and Fire Station 10, 3537 Market St. in Ross Bridge. Meet in daylight and do not go alone. Call 911 or 205-822-5300 if anything goes wrong.

Holiday markets

  • Market Noel, Nov. 19-21, Finley Center, 5508 Stadium Trace Parkway. The Junior League of Birmingham’s holiday market: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is charged; parking is free.

  • The Village at Lee Branch, 410 Doug Baker Blvd. off U.S. 280, lists its annual All Is Bright night on its events page for Nov. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m., with a holiday film, Santa, vendors and free kids activities. The listing also calls the date a Friday, so check the page before you go.

  • Ross Bridge Farmers Market Holiday Market, Friday, Dec. 11, 4 to 8 p.m., 2101 Grand Ave., the last market of the market’s 2026 season.

More holiday events, from light displays to Santa visits, are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28

Small Business Saturday falls the day after Black Friday. The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce, with nearly 1,000 members across Hoover and nearby towns, keeps a member directory on its site. We will list any Hoover Small Business Saturday events when organizers post them; send yours through our contact page. New stores that opened this year are on our new businesses page.

What this means for you

  • Expect officers directing traffic around the Galleria on Black Friday weekend.
  • Check the Galleria’s hours page the week of Thanksgiving for its holiday schedule.
  • Use a police meetup spot for online sales.

Related: Thanksgiving in Hoover, Christmas tree lighting and getting around Hoover.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Riverchase Galleria open on Black Friday 2026?

The mall had not posted its 2026 Thanksgiving or Black Friday hours as of Oct. 17. Its regular hours page shows an 11 a.m. opening Monday to Saturday and noon on Sunday; check riverchasegalleria.com before you go.

Where is Santa at the Riverchase Galleria?

Santa photos are in Von Maur Court. The mall takes reservations through whereissanta.com, and walk-ups are welcome until closing.

When is Small Business Saturday 2026?

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the day after Black Friday.

Where can I safely meet someone to buy or sell an item in Hoover?

Hoover police list three meetup spots with video surveillance: the upper lot at City Hall, 100 Municipal Lane; Fire Station 7, 100 Inverness Parkway; and Fire Station 10, 3537 Market St. in Ross Bridge.