During the holiday season, Van Smith enjoys having entertainers outside his shop on Laurens Street.
"It creates an atmosphere of fun and a destination. It brings a lot of traffic. We try to advertise in Aiken and to people out of town," Mr. Smith, the owner of Lionel Smith Ltd., said of the Aiken Downtown Development Association's Holly Days promotion Dec. 20.
A misty rain moved the Savannah River Grass bluegrass band from its usual spot directly in front of the men's shop to another place a few feet away with an overhang, but Lionel Smith employees didn't mind the mist as they came outside to listen to the band's opening number.
Band member Darryl Hudson said performing in downtown Aiken during the Christmas holidays is a tradition for the band.
"We've played the last eight to 10 of them," he said.
Holly Days are the four Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. During Holly Days, entertainers try to draw shoppers to downtown Aiken, according to Jo-Anne Saunders, a member of the association.
"We've had a variety -- bluegrass, R&B, a saxophonist, the AAA Homeschool Band, soloists," she said.
Entertainers were stationed outside downtown businesses. Throughout each Saturday, they would rotate to other locations.
"We're just trying to get people to move around downtown and show off our storefronts," Mr. Smith said.
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