Downtown Aiken twinkles with the glow of lighted lampposts and the snowflake Christmas tree on Richland Avenue, but Thursday the streets will be illuminated as part of the Aiken Downtown Development Association's third annual Night of 1,000 Lights.

"We will add 1,000 (luminarias) all throughout downtown," said Carla Cloud, the executive director of the association.

The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. as part of the quarterly Downtown After Six program to draw shoppers downtown after regular business hours. Each Downtown After Six event has its own theme.

Maps of participating businesses will be available at the association's office in The Alley. On the back of the map there will be several Christmas trivia questions. Shoppers will be able to find the answers at the businesses.

Some businesses will also provide food and entertainment, Ms. Cloud said.

The purpose of the downtown events is to stimulate the local economy.

"We want to bring business downtown, especially in this economic time," she said.

When people shop locally, the money stays local.

"It stays in the community, and that's important," she said.

Twenty-five businesses will participate in the event, and a golf cart shuttle service will transport people to businesses on Park Avenue.

For more information, call (803) 649-2221.

Reach Charmain Brackett at charmain.brackett@augustachronicle.com.