Mixed in with the green garland and red bows that were part of the festive decorations on Asbury Avenue in downtown Ocean City was some pink.

Make that shocking pink.

Tia Riendeau, Rachel Riendeau, Teresa Riendeau and Nicole Caputo were wearing outrageously gaudy pink pajamas, decorated with comical images of the Grinch, as they navigated the downtown shops Saturday in search of holiday gifts during Ocean City’s “Earlier Than the Bird” shopping extravaganza.

“Everybody goes, ‘Oh, my God.’ We definitely stand out,” Tia Riendeau joked about the typical reaction the women were getting from other shoppers.

The four women make the event a pre-holiday tradition, carefully selecting their goofy get-ups ahead of time to make sure they will grab plenty of attention – and laughs – once they appear in public.

“We usually start around Halloween,” Teresa Riendeau said of when they begin the planning process.

They were part of the pajama-clad mobs of shoppers that invaded the downtown area for the Earlier Than the Bird promotion that kicks off the holiday retail season in Ocean City. The annual event invites shoppers to roll out of bed and hit the stores in the morning while still wearing their PJs.

    Costume-clad shoppers cross the intersection of Ninth Street and Asbury Avenue in the heart of downtown.
  

The sidewalks along Asbury Avenue and other downtown streets were crowded with shoppers throughout the morning, indicating that Earlier Than the Bird was a success for the store owners in drawing customers.

“It gets us exposure. It does help us in terms of showing people who we are and where we are,” said Laura Gibbons, owner of Partyology Firm at 411 E. Eighth Street.

Earlier Than the Bird refers to the turkey that will be on the Thanksgiving menu next week. The promotion allows downtown businesses to get a jump on the Black Friday crush, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

Old-fashioned decorations give Ocean City’s downtown a festive feel. Christmas lights twinkle in multicolor splendor. Green garland and big, red bows hang above Asbury Avenue and are also draped on the Victorian-style lampposts lining the sidewalks.

Merchants are counting on the holiday season to re-energize the downtown business district now that the summer vacation crowds are gone. As an extra incentive for shoppers, many of the stores are offering steep discounts.

    Grinch welcomes shoppers to "Whoville" inside the Stainton's Gallery of Shops.
  

Michele Gillian, executive director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, called Earlier Than the Bird “a charming and festive way to start the holiday season.” The Chamber partners with the Downtown Merchants Association and the city to sponsor the event.

“Encouraging shoppers to dress in pajamas and costumes while enjoying downtown's stores and restaurants adds a playful and unique twist to holiday shopping,” Gillian said. “With Santa, the Grinch, and local mascots like Martin Z. Mollusk joining the fun, the event clearly creates a lively and welcoming atmosphere for friends, families and guests. Events like this not only boost community spirit, but also support local businesses during the holiday season – a win for everyone involved.”

Shopper Staci Pietrafesa, who lives in Pennsauken, N.J., and has a vacation home in Ocean City, was dressed in matching reindeer-themed pajama pants with her daughter, Brielle Pietrafesa, and daughter-in-law, Olivia Pietrafesa.

“We do this every year. We’ve been doing it for a lot of years,” Staci Pietrafesa said of Earlier Than the Bird.

“You have the festivities, the fun, the people, the music and your family. It gets you in the Christmas spirit,” she added while kissing her daughter.

    Shopper Staci Pietrafesa, right, is joined by her daughter, Brielle Pietrafesa, and daughter-in-law, Olivia Pietrafesa, while wearing matching reindeer-themed pajama pants.
  

During their shopping spree, Tia Riendeau, Rachel Riendeau, Teresa Riendeau and Nicole Caputo strolled into Partyology Firm for a holiday-themed photo-op.

The Riendeaus, who live in Blue Anchor, N.J., and Caputo, from Haddonfield, N.J., relish their visits to Ocean City during the holiday season for the Earlier Than the Bird festivities. Toting their shopping bags, they had already bought ornaments, jewelry and some Grinch-themed gifts by 10:30 a.m.

“He’s our favorite,” Tia Riendeau said of the Grinch.

Speaking of the Grinch, he was making the rounds downtown to the delight of shoppers. Grinch also posed for photos while hanging out at a holiday re-creation of his hometown of “Whoville” inside the Stainton’s Gallery of Shops on Asbury Avenue.

Santa Claus, Ocean City’s official mascot Martin Z. Mollusk and a costumed 6-foot-tall turkey were other celebrities making appearances and mingling with the crowds.

“For the most part, there are big smiles. There are a lot of happy people,” Santa said of all the shoppers and children he met.

Santa, who was dressed in a flannel robe for the occasion, stopped to give a hug to two young admirers, brothers Ari and Logan Lucas, in front of City Hall.

“It was good,” Ari exclaimed of meeting Santa, eliciting smiles from his parents, Meg and Nick Lucas, of Chester Springs, Pa.

    Santa gives a hug to brothers Logan and Ari Lucas.
  

Photo Gallery

Earlier Than the Bird

Check out photos from the Earlier Than the Bird shopping extravaganza in Ocean City.