Historic downtown Van Buren is helping holiday shoppers interested in getting their Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving.
Main Street is covered with Christmas decoration and lights, and downtown stores are holding an open house for the big holiday. Merchants have hot apple cider and homemade cookies for visitors to help avoid the mad dash of Christmas shopping.
"You've got to start early," said Van Buren merchant Wes Turner. "If you don't start early, by Thanksgiving, it takes days to get your Christmas out. So if you wait till Thanksgiving or after Thanksgiving, you're not going to beat the Christmas rush."
The open house continues from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.