REPORTER: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE KICKING OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON HERE AT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WHILE TASTING GERMAN FAVORITES AND PICKING OUT UNIQUE GIFTS. >> I BOUGHT THIS BEENIE IT WAS REALLY COOL. >> IT JUST SOME UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFTS. THERE’S A LOT OF LIKE PERSONALIZED THINGS AND STUFF THAT YOU WOULDN’T FIND INSIDE THE STORES SO IT')S FUN. >> IT’S ALL SORTS OF ORNAMENTS. I SAW INSIDE THEY HAD THESE COASTERS WITH SPECIALIZED THINGS IT SEEMED REALLY NICE. REPORTER: VENDORS FROM ACROSS THE AREA AND THE WORLD ARE CONVERGING AT THE INNER HARBOR FOR CHRISTMAS VILLAGE. >> WE ARE BACK FINALLY AFTER A GREAT SEASON LAST YEAR BRINGING CHRISTMAS JOY BACK TO BALTIMORE. OUR AUTHENTIC GERMAN CHRISTMAS VILLAGE SERVES EVERYONE’S HEARTS. REPORTER: FROM BABIES GETTING THEIR FIRST PICS WITH SANTA TO KIDS WITH MORE DEVELOPED TASTE. >> TO LOOK AT ART AND HAVE A FUN EXPERIENCE. REPORTER: AND ADULTS WANTING TO TRY WELL EVERYTHING. >> WHAT IS IN THE MUG? >> BEER. I DRINK IT ALL. IT WAS HOT CHOCOLATE. >> EATING. >> LOOKING AT ALL THE FOOD. >> WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD CREPES. THEY’RE YUMMY. REPORTER: WITH RECORD TURNOUT EXPECTED THE VILLAGE EXPANDED MAKING IT BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER FOR FOLKS LOOKING TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND CARRY ON TRADITION. >> SHOPPING SMALL AND SHOPPING LOCALLY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, IT’S JUST MORE SUSTAINABLE. AND HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO THESE BIG BUSINESSES THAT YOU KNOW AREN’T REALLY DOING MUCH TO GIVE BACK. SO, THAT’S WHERE I LIKE TO SPEND MY MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. >> PLUS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WITH FAMILY OBVIOUSLY RIGHT BECAUSE OF THANKSGIVING SO IT’S A NICE THING TO COME DO WITH YOUR FAMILY. REPORTER: CHRISTMAS VILLAGE IS OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE AND IS FREE THIS WEEKEND. NEXT WEEKEND KIDS ARE FREE BUT ADULTS WILL HAVE TO PAY FIVE DOLLARS FOR A HOLIDAY PASS. FROM THE INNER HARBOR, I’M JENYNE DONALDSON FOR WBAL TV 11 NEWS