SCRANTON -- The annual Lackawanna County Christmas tree lighting drew a crowd to downtown Scranton Friday night and for the first time, there was also an outdoor holiday marketplace festival, called Holiday On The Square.
More than a dozen artisans set up shop under heated tents, and folks shopped for handmade items.
"I see that Scranton is kind of on the up-and-up, and so I think it's neat to bring people downtown just to see all the new things, all the new shops and also get to know vendors that don`t necessarily have a shop downtown," said Ashley Paschke of Scranton who has the Reclaimed Candle Company.
'We thought it was a great event for the community and for everybody to shop local and support the community," said Jennifer Healey who has Fairy Dust Designs.
Shoppers who spoke with Newswatch 16 said they loved the experience.
"It`s neat to see all the local vendors. I had no idea so many local people made such cool products," said John Warring of Scranton.
"During the holidays I like to get nice little gifts for people, they`re handmade, they`re done by people who are very skilled rather than going someplace and paying a department store the same kind of money, but the craftsmanship and the heart isn`t there," said Clare Seth of Erie.
Holiday On the Square runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Courthouse Square. Organizers and vendors said they hope the open marketplace will become an ongoing tradition.