For those who like to wait until the last minute to shop for Christmas, the last minute has arrived. Fortunately, merchants in downtown Vicksburg are here to help.

Matt Southerland, owner of Magnolia Jewelers on Washington Street, said his store will be open not only from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday, but will also be open Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Southerland said the last few days leading up until Christmas are the busiest.

And one of the most sought after items this year, he said, have been diamond bracelets.

“Diamond hoop earrings have also been really big this year, and we have been selling a ton of diamond station necklaces.”

A station necklace, Southerland explained, is a chain necklace that has small diamonds spaced about an inch apart and can also be referred to as “diamonds by the yard.”

These popular items, however, may not be available for the eleventh-hour shoppers, so Southerland advised them to scurry on in.

“My advice to last-minute shoppers is ‘don’t wait until Christmas Eve, because you are going to come in and just get what is left,’” he said, adding that, as of Tuesday, he only had four station necklaces left in the store.

Cinnamon Tree owner Karen Ruggles said she also sees a lot of last-minute shoppers at her store.

“This is good,” she said. And ironically, many of those customers are shopping for Christmas décor.

“They are still looking for ornaments and candles,” she said, as well as the food items, like cheese straws and lemon straws and her specialty fudge.

Ruggles said she didn’t mind last-minute shoppers and actually finds Christmas Eve customers fun.

“I enjoy it and kind of hate to see it come to an end” she said.

Vicksburg Main Street Program Executive Director Kim Hopkins said all retailers along Washington Street will be opened on Christmas Eve, with varying store hours, for those still on the hunt the night before the big day.