Business owners in the NorthShore Merchants Collective don't want shoppers to spend all their Black Friday green at the malls.
So the more than 50 merchants are hosting their fifth annual holiday open house and have extended it to what's now being called Small Business Saturday across the country.
"It's lots of fun," said Tina Harrison, owner of Blue Skies on Frazier Avenue. "It's festive. We [owners] have a real appreciation for people who shop in our stores."
Individual businesses will offer programming, refreshments, drawings and discounts, she said, but there also will be strolling musicians, additional entertainment and a drawing for a grand prize basket stocked with merchant gift certificates and other goodies that retails for about $2,000.
Shoppers can register for the grand prize at each store and for a $25 purchase can register a second time.
Jimmy Adams, whose home furnishings shop Nell's will be celebrating its first Christmas on the NorthShore, said he is glad to be part of a collective where everybody supports each other.
"For me," he said, "I'm so excited to be part of a neighborhood. The idea of a neighborhood association with everyone working together is incredible."
Shoppers also can check out the holiday windows dressed by merchants for the annual NorthShore Window contest and support the less fortunate at various locations by donating a new toy for distribution by Northside Neighborhood House.
Parking will be free at metered spaces and at the garage at The Terrace at Frazier.
IF YOU GO
* What: NorthShore Merchants Collective Open House.
* When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today.
* Where: NorthShore.
* Admission: Free.
* Website: www.northshore chattanooga.com