As the holiday season approaches, downtown Kent has prepared with lights, decorations and different displays of holiday spirit within the stores and restaurants.

Carnaby Street Style on Erie Street is just one of the shops downtown celebrating the holidays with decorations. Other decorations adorning the town include strung lights and trees inside businesses’ display windows.

Emma Kennell, owner of Carnaby Street Style, said she loves all the decorations that are put up in her store.

“Doing the decorations in here is my absolute favorite thing,” Kennel said.

Along with Carnaby Street, businesses such as Fresco Mexican Grill & Salsa Bar and Gracylane boutique also participated in the holiday decorating.  

Fresco has a tree adorned with lights as customers walk into the restaurant with hanging candy canes free for taking.

“I think having the decorations up really puts people in the holiday spirit,” said Emily Clark, a waitress at Fresco.

Downtown Kent Prepares for the Holidays from Bailey Purpura on Vimeo.

At Gracylane, everything people see hanging in the trees can be purchased at the store.

Dominique Burrell, a Gracylane employee, said it is an easy way to make the store look festive while also showing off the store’s products.

“It’s easy to sell and fun to restock,” Burrell said.

With finals week right around the corner, the decorations in popular studying spots around town are a motivation for some students to get through their cram sessions before going home for the holidays.

“I don’t think it is a distraction at all, said Rachel Murrey, a sophomore nursing major. “It really makes me motivated to get through finals week.”

Bailey Purpura is the downtown/city reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].