The Hinesville Downtown Partners will kick off the holiday shopping season with the first of two open houses Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Participating retailers will festively decorate their shops, display holiday gift items, advertise specials, have drawings and provide refreshments. Downtown businesses also have committed to being open each Saturday through Dec. 24. 

“Our motivation is to get customers into the shops, familiar with the merchandise and begin a long tradition of supporting local businesses,” program assistant Katrina Sage said. “With more than a dozen businesses in the historic core agreeing to be open each Saturday, we hope the shopping downtown Saturday campaign will provide customers with plenty of opportunity to spend their holiday dollars locally.”

One customer will win a $500 shopping spree. Through Dec. 5, participating businesses will accept entries for the shopping spree and in-store door prizes. On Dec. 5, shops will remain open until 7 p.m. for the second open house in conjunction with Christmas in the Park. Contest rules allow one entry per person per visit, so customers are encouraged to visit the shops several times throughout the contest and enter as often as possible. Each participating business will draw one entry after the close of business Dec. 5. Those entries will be collected for the $500 shopping spree grand prize drawing Dec. 7, leaving plenty of shopping time before Christmas.

For a complete list of participating businesses, door prizes and other holiday activities and events in downtown Hinesville, email discoverdowntown@coastalnow.net, call 877-4332 or go to www.hinesvilledowntown.com.