Harrison Poulsom, 3, of Highland Park decorates a gingerbread house with Sabrina Pira (center), 3, and sister Anita, 7, of Highland Park inside a heated tent Friday, one of the strategies used by merchants this season to encourage local shopping. | Ryan P

Macsen Van Pelt, 2, of Lake Bluff and brother Noah, 4, check out a 6-month-old reindeer with sister Caroline, 6, on Central Avenue in Highland Park, where merchants recreated the "North Pole" Friday and Saturday. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Kallista Schneiderman (left), 5, of Highland Park decorates a gingerbread house with sister Athena, 6, in a tent on Central Avenue in Highland Park to encourage shopping locally on Friday. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Highland Park youngsters Addison Shapiro, 3, Arielle Shapiro, 5, and Simon Levitan, 6, roast marshmallows while Ayden Shlifka, 3, of Northfield watches Dec. 7. Downtown merchants are finding creative ways to encourage customers to shop local. | | Ryan Pa

Albert Ugolini of Highland Park roasts chestnuts on Central Avenue in Highland Park Dec. 7 as merchants recreate some simple pleasures of Christmases past. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Macsen Van Pelt, 2, of Lake Bluff and sister Caroline, 6, check out a 6-month-old reindeer as some downtown Highland Park merchants create a "North Pole" on Central Avenue to bring customers downtown. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Ella Volante, 3, of Gurnee checks out a reindeer with her uncle Don Clower of Lansing, Mich., on Central Avenue in Highland Park where merchants created the "North Pole" complete with snow and reindeer. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

The Merry Masquers carolers (from left) Robb Alton, Katie Meyers, Jen Chada and George Keating sing on Central Avenue in Highland Park Friday as merchants create some Christmas magic to bring shoppers downtown. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media