Downtown Gainesville kicks off holiday season

GAINESVILLE - Downtown Gainesville kicked off the holiday season Thursday night with the annual Jingle Mingle.

Main Street Gainesville sponsors the annual event.

Santa was there. There were carolers. And, much more. The idea: to remind shoppers of what downtown merchants have to offer.

The lighting of the Christmas Chicken atop Main Street Market was one of the highlights of the evening.

Merchants around the square opened their doors and invited the shoppers inside, enticing them with discounts and treats.