Caldwell Merchants: Saturday Nov. 26 Will Be 'Better Than Black Friday'

Caldwell merchants are gearing up for a kick-off to the holiday shopping season they’re billing as “Better Than Black Friday.”

On Saturday, Nov. 26, Santa will stop by , which will become a winter wonderland for the occasion. Children can be photographed with Santa from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Don’t have a child? Pets are welcome, too. After the photo-op, take some time to shop and have lunch or a cup of coffee in town before picking up photos at .

Select shops and restaurants will be holding sales to further welcome holiday shoppers. Plus, there will be choirs in the downtown singing Christmas carols to add to the old-fashioned Main Street experience.

And don't forget to bring your American Express card. Nov. 26 is the second annual Small Business Saturday promotion from American Express. Cardholders who pre-register their cards at www.smallbusinesssaturday.com will receive a $25 credit to their account when they support a small business on this day.

As another incentive to skip the mall and shop local, many Caldwell businesses will stay open late on Thursday nights through Dec. 22.

For more information on the Caldwell Merchants Association, visit www.caldwellmerchants.com.