BALTIMORE (WJZ)—It’s not yet Thanksgiving but in downtown Baltimore it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. In the Harbor East neighborhood, just outside the Inner Harbor, businesses kicked off holiday shopping.

Kai Jackson explains retailers hope to cash in on the season of giving.

Inner Harbor businesses have rolled out the red carpet for the holidays.

Sounds of the holiday season can be heard at Baltimore’s trendy Harbor East.

“I think it’s great. It’s good for the kids. They get to go and look at different things around here. The ladies on stilts are pretty amazing,” said Stephanie Roberts, of Canton.

For the second year the Waterfront Partnership is kicking off “It’s A Waterfront Life.”

It’s an effort to promote downtown Baltimore and holiday shopping, using attractions like ice sculptures, various street performers and a new Harbor East attraction, called Window Wonderland that showcases local artists.

“It’s a Waterfront Life is a campaign, is a season filled with family-friendly events at the waterfront,” said Laurie Schwartz, Waterfront Partnership president.

Businesses at Harbor East hope all the activities and the Window Wonderland helps bring people and shoppers to the area.

Those we talked with say so far, so good.

“As soon as we came down here, the first thing I thought about was shopping,” said Breana Smith, of East Baltimore.

“There’s a very low vacancy rate around the waterfront. The shop storefronts are all filled with shops and restaurants, new ones coming in, so business has been good,” Schwartz said.

The Winter Wonderland starts this Saturday. That includes the opening of the popular Santa House and the second year for the Power Plant Laser Light Show.

Local artist Sue Caldwell won the Window Wonderland competition. She tells WJZ she received free gift certificates from several downtown merchants.