SWANSBORO--Downtown shops are preparing for the holiday season. Swansboro by Candlelight is Saturday.
"It is a big night," said Salt Marsh Cottage Employee Dawn Howell-Schulte.
Swansboro by Candlelight will attract hundreds of shoppers.
"It gets people in the holiday spirit," said Howell-Schulte.
Swansboro Parks and Recreation Director Brittany Shipp promotes Swansboro by Candlelight.
"It's the first opportunity for the shops to be open later to kind of kick off the holiday season, to promote local shopping, to let those in our area know what we do have downtown," said Swansboro Parks and Recreation Director Brittany Shipp.
The Town of Swansboro says it's all about shopping local this holiday season.
"Instead of getting in the car and traveling to Wilmington or going up to Raleigh, there's a variety of things they can find right here in downtown Swansboro right out their back door," said Shipp.
"The merchants depend on the locals to get through the holiday season, the winter, and we all have very unique things for the customers, for the people as opposed to the bigger stores, big box stores," said Howell-Schulte.
Several of Downtown Swansboro shops will be open for extended hours during the holiday season. Swansboro by Candlelight is Saturday from 5 to 9.
The Christmas tree lighting is at 6.