SPOKANE -- New, giant glowing snowflakes, free carriage rides, hot chocolate and cider are just a few things that are being offered to encourage people to come to the downtown area and shop.

When things look Christmas-y you feel Christmas-y and when you feel Christmas-y the Downtown Spokane Partnership is banking on you buying more stuff.

To that end the partnership is spending 50-percent more than last year to infuse downtown Spokane with the Christmas spirit.

By next week several downtown skywalks will be painted with Christmas scenes and donned in Christmas lights, Santa will be taking up temporary residence in RiverPark Square and businesses will be decorating to keep with the spirit of the season.

And all of it, the decorations, the music, Santa and the Christmas spirit adds up to happy people enjoying the season and downtown businesses hope that means more shoppers in downtown stores.