Swarthout's Bait & Tackle Shop

08/26/2026

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY WINTERFEST 🎄
📍 Swarthout’s Bait & Tackle
133 E. Hudson Street, Elmira, NY 14904
📅 Saturday, November 28, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
With the cancellation of our Octoberfest event, we’re sharing this one a little earlier than we normally would.
This year, our traditional Winterfest is becoming something a little bigger as we combine it with Small Business Saturday for a cozy holiday event focused on shopping small, supporting local businesses, and kicking off the Christmas season together.
🎅 Santa will be here to help us kick off the holiday season with the kiddos first Christmas gift!
The first 100 children to visit Santa will receive a gift, generously provided by 7-Eleven on Oakwood Avenue in Elmira Heights.
☕ Dakota’s Sips for Service Hot Cocoa Bar will be serving hot cocoa throughout the event.
🎨 We’ll also have a kids’ craft station for our younger visitors.
📚🫧 BOOKS & BUBBLES — A Cozy Book + Self-Care Workshop
The Poppy Emporium and Hart & Soul are teaming up for a special pre-ticketed experience for book lovers and self-care enthusiasts.
$25 per person includes:
📖 1 blind date mystery book chosen by your favorite genre
🧼 Your choice of 1 blind date mystery handmade soap, candle, or wax melt chosen by scent description
Books & Bubbles is pre-ticketed with limited space available. Contact us to reserve your ticket.
🛍️ VENDORS WANTED
We are looking for local small businesses and handmade vendors to join us for Winterfest.
This will be a small, intimate outdoor event, and November weather may be cold, so vendors should plan accordingly.
Vendor space is $20 per 10x10 space.
To keep the event varied and enjoyable for shoppers, while supporting each local business:
• Local small businesses and handmade items only
• No MLM/direct-sales businesses
• No duplicate vendors/categories
Vendor space is limited.
If you’d like to be considered for a space, contact us with your business name and what you sell. But hurry space is limited.
❤️ Shop Small. Support Local. Celebrate Community.
Come spend Small Business Saturday with us, shop local, visit Santa, warm up with hot cocoa, let the kids create, and help us kick off the holiday season at Small Business Saturday Winterfest.
🎄 Come shop small. Stay cozy. Kick off the holidays with us.

08/25/2026

We’re excited to invite everyone to Sip & Support Weekend for Dakota on September 12 & 13 at Swarthout’s Bait & Tackle! This special weekend is all about supporting Dakota’s two current missions in one fun event. He’ll be raffling off basket raffles to benefit his Guatemala trip, and he’ll also be offering Boba Lemonade, Dirty Soda, sponsorship opportunities, and a meet & greet to support his First Responder Dinner and Giveback Project. Stop in, say hi, ask questions, and support one mission or both!

We also want to briefly clarify that Dakota’s Guatemala fundraising is separate from the fundraising being done by his karate school. Dakota has been fundraising all year because we knew early on that this would be a financially difficult year for our family with his dad being out of work following surgery and owning a seasonal business which will be coming to the season conclusion soon. We wanted to be proactive and make sure Dakota didn’t miss this opportunity because of finances. Any fundraising done through the school would go toward Dakota’s student-related costs only, and we do not yet know what support, if any, he may receive. Our fundraising is what helps make the full trip possible for him and for us to accompany him.

We are so grateful for everyone who has supported Dakota along the way. If, after all Guatemala travel expenses are covered, any travel funds remain, they will be set aside for Dakota’s karate tournament expenses next year. We hope you’ll stop by, grab a drink, take a chance on a raffle basket, learn more about Dakota’s Giveback Project, and help us make this weekend a success. Two days. Two missions. One community.

08/24/2026

After careful consideration, I’ve made the decision to cancel this year’s OctoberFest.

This year has taken an exciting turn with Dakota’s incredible opportunity to travel to Guatemala to represent the United States of America at the Sport Jujitsu World Championships. With us being out of the country for nearly two weeks, and Dakota’s First Responder Dinner also being moved to October, we’ve simply run out of available dates to give OctoberFest the time and attention it deserves.

Rather than trying to squeeze everything in, we’ve decided to shift our focus to something BIG for Small Business Saturday — November 28th!

We’re already working on plans to make Small Business Saturday a really special event, and we’re excited about what’s coming. Please stay tuned — there’s much more to come!

If you’ve reached out about participating in OctoberFest and haven’t received an application, this is why. Once our Small Business Saturday plans are finalized, I’ll be reaching back out with more information.

Thank you, as always, for supporting us, supporting our events, and rolling with us during what has turned into a very exciting and very busy year. ❤️

08/22/2026

We are now completely SOLD OUT of Mad Katz Products. This is the first ICAST product that has sold out and will be added as a permanent product within the shop.

If you have specific Mad Katz item(s) that you would like to see added to inventory, please let me know.

08/21/2026

📣 HOURS UPDATE FOR FRIDAY

Just a heads up that Swarthout’s Bait & Tackle will be closed Friday from 12:00 PM–5:00 PM.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate everyone’s understanding!

08/20/2026

Dakota needs your help to reach his goals

💗 CALLING ALL LADIES WHO WANT TO SUPPORT DAKOTA’S JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA — THIS ONE’S FOR YOU! 💗

And men… here’s a perfect goodie for your lady while supporting a great cause at the same time! 😉

We just launched Dakota’s Local Retreat Raffle with 100 spots at only $10 each!

One lucky winner will receive a Local Retreat Package valued at OVER $200, featuring:

✨ A surprise gift card from KLS Waterless Nail Bar
🍽️ A surprise gift certificate from Kyoto Japanese Hibachi
🕯️ Handcrafted soaps and candles from Hart & Soul
🎁 PLUS additional local goodies may be added as they come in!

We’re keeping the individual gift card amounts a surprise, but we can tell you this — the total package value will be over $200! 👀💕

💲 $10 per spot
🔢 Numbers 1–100
🏆 One winner takes the entire Local Retreat Package

🎥 The winner will be chosen at random LIVE on Facebook once the board is full!

Whether you’re grabbing a spot for yourself or trying to score a little something special for your lady, every number helps!

🇺🇸🥋✈️🇬🇹 LET’S GET DAKOTA TO GUATEMALA! 🇬🇹✈️🥋🇺🇸

Comment your number(s) below or message us to claim yours! 💕

08/19/2026

🎣 WE’RE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE Q8! 🎣

Swarthout’s Bait & Tackle is officially stocked and ready with Q8 products!

We’re excited to bring this new line into the shop and introduce our customers to a product we think you’re going to be hearing a LOT about. Q8 is getting ready to make some serious waves in the fishing industry — and you can get your hands on it right here.

We have a great selection in stock and ready to hit the water.

Stop in, check out the new Q8 display, grab a few to try, and let us know what you think!

Q8 has officially arrived at Swarthout’s! 🎣

08/18/2026

🇺🇸 $1,500 TO GO — DAKOTA IS GETTING CLOSER TO GUATEMALA! 🇺🇸
Dakota is officially $1,500 away from reaching his first fundraising goal for his trip to Guatemala, where he has earned the opportunity to represent Team USA!

There are lots of ways to help him get there! ❤️🤍💙

⭐ SPONSOR DAKOTA
Businesses, families and individuals can sponsor his journey.

🎟️ PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS
Grab some raffle tickets, have a chance to win, and help move him closer to his goal.

🐟 FISHBOWL DONATIONS
Dakota now has a donation fishbowl right beside the register at Swarthout’s Bait & Tackle. Donate any amount or round up your purchase — every donation helps!

💵 MAKE A DONATION
No amount is too small. Every dollar gets him closer.

💪 PUT DAKOTA TO WORK!

Dakota is willing to earn it, too! If you have a job that needs to be done, he's looking for work:

• Mowing lawns
• Raking & yard clean-up
• Picking up sticks/debris
• Basic outdoor chores
• Other age-appropriate jobs — just ask!

Maybe you've got a lawn that needs mowing. Maybe you'll grab a few raffle tickets. Maybe you're stopping into the bait shop and can drop something in his fishbowl. Or maybe your business would like to sponsor a young athlete representing the United States.

Every bit of it gets him closer.

Dakota has $1,500 left to raise for this first goal, and he's willing to work for it!

If you'd like to sponsor Dakota, make a donation, purchase raffle tickets, or hire him for a job, send a message or stop into Swarthout’s Bait & Tackle.

❤️🤍💙 $1,500 TO GO TO GOAL #1 — HELP GET DAKOTA TO GUATEMALA! 🇺🇸

08/18/2026

Came into work to the best surprise!!

Thank you Robert & Karen Brewer. My Mama is smiling down this morning listening to your music. 🙂

08/15/2026

We are live now

🌺 POPPY’S BOOK DROP! 📚 New Reads + Hidden Gems