Santa Claus hugs a little girl after hearing her Christmas wish at Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016.

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Whether it's a picture with Santa, or stocking stuffers for a loved one, the last-minute Christmas shoppers are going full tilt today, Dec. 23, the busiest shopping day of the year. 

Brynn Gise with the Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops says Christmas is one of the most crucial times of year for the mall and she spends much of her time working on new ideas for the holiday. For example, there's a new entry to Santaland this year.

"There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff," Gise says. "It's all about being creative."

Despite how crowded the mall will be, Gise says it's a different feeling than Black Friday or Boxing Day.

"I think it's... the holiday spirit," she says. "It's different than sale shopping."

Although online shopping has taken the world by storm in the last decade, Gise says many people still go for the traditional shopping experience. She says there's a perceived impact of online shopping, but many people would rather be able to try clothes on or interact with people in real life.

"(Salespeople) are helping and offering input," she says.

Not to mention, Aberdeen Mall services more than just the Kamloops community. People from Barriere or Clearwater tend to do their holiday shopping at the mall because it's the closest large shopping centre for them, Gise says. The mall often sees people travelling from as far as Williams Lake and Quesnel.

The mall will be open today, Dec. 23, from 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but if you're hoping for a picture with Santa, you'll only have until 3 p.m. tomorrow before he begins his voyage around the world.

Shoppers crowd around Santa at Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016.

(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

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