To help kick off the Christmas shopping season, several retailers in downtown Knoxville will be open for “Trick or Treat On the Square” today from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to dress up in their costumes, visit downtown businesses, and receive Halloween treats. Leta Burke with Candi’s Flowers is helping to organize the event, and says it’s part of an effort to encourage shopping locally this holiday season.

“A few of the retailers got together, and we are doing Trick or Treat On the Square Thursday night. That’ll be the kickoff of Thursday nights, the stores being open for the Christmas season, and we’ll be having different themes going, trying to drive traffic up downtown.”

Candi’s Flowers is hosting a pumpkin decorating contest as part of this event, with voting taking place over the weekend. More information is available here.