Hundreds of shoppers, from the peninsula and beyond showed up in the pre-dawn hours for the 2016 Early Bird Sale in Boothbay Harbor on Saturday Nov. 19. Many were first-time shoppers in the harbor and many others have made the annual sale a family tradition that started many years ago. A Gardiner group dressed as sheep and a shepherd.

Pajamas, slippers, and robes were the norm for the event. For some, creative shopping fashion rivals the discounts as the most important part of the event. Several local nonprofits helped warm up chilly hands with free coffee. Merchants were pleased with the crowded shops and long lines at the register. While commerce drives the event, it was clear that early birds are social birds. There were as many smiles as shopping bags.