Begin your holiday shopping at this free, family-friendly event with several unique items available daily at The Shops. Children can share their Christmas lists with Santa (5:00 – 7:00pm) and take pictures with Sabretooth (4:00 – 6:00pm). Max will be signing copies of Max Meets the Mayor, the wonderfully Buffalo-centric picture book by grandpa Mark Goldman featuring Max and Mayor Byron Brown.

“Over the last few months, we have been proud to house the first permanent retail offerings of the Canalside district,” said Stan Makowski, who oversees HARBORCENTER’s operation as the Buffalo Sabres vice president of arena operations. “We expect HARBORCENTER to continue to create a downtown shopping destination, especially during the busy holiday season. This event will give families a great chance to observe The Shops’ offerings while preparing to celebrate the best time of the year.”

The Shops at HARBORCENTER – featuring Red Siren, Modern Nostalgia, Clayton’s Toys & Gifts, and Fowler’s Chocolates – opened in August and have been a key part in HARBORCENTER’s mission of being a catalyst in future development of the Canalside district. Red Siren specializes in high-end women’s apparel and accessories. Modern Nostalgia is a lifestyle store that offers men’s and women’s clothing and accessories with exclusive lines. Fowler’s Chocolates serves fine homemade sponge candy, many additional chocolate and candy items, and ice cream. Clayton’s Toys & Gifts is the place to go for a wide variety of popular toys and unique gift ideas. As part of Friday’s event, Clayton’s will welcome Max Goldman, who will be signing copies of his book Max Meets the Mayor.

Holiday Season Kickoff at The Shops takes place while HARBORCENTER’s Canalside neighbors showcase dozens of local artists at the holiday artisan market, adjacent to the Ice at Canalside. Visitors to the district will have many options for local holiday shopping as they enjoy the beginning of the season with the two events. Festivities begin at 4:00 PM with Sabretooth’s arrival. Santa enters The Shops at HARBORCENTER at 5:00 PM and will be greeting children for two hours, while members of the public have their first look at the holiday decorations at The Shops.