Last-minute holiday shopping around the Delaware Valley

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Christmas Village has officially gone quiet for the season, after a final day of last-minute shopping where crowds packed the stalls searching for those final holiday treasures.

Shoppers scoured Christmas Village for unique, one-of-a-kind gifts, holding out for something special right up until the final hours.

"On Christmas Eve business is great," said Whidullah Himidi.

A glance around Christmas Village tells the story, wall-to-wall crowds and nonstop foot traffic. Vendors say the lines never seemed to slow down.

"We did well, and the weather was good, and everything went really nice and smooth," said Himidi.

And the rush wasn't limited to Center City. Across the river at the Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey, packed walkways and long checkout lines filled the space, all wrapped in holiday cheer.

"Big crowds normally bother me but for some reason this don't because everybody's just here having a good time getting gifts for loved ones, families, friends so it's all the good things a good vibe," said Stephanie Wilkes, of West Philadelphia.

For many families, it's also the final chance to share a wish with Santa, one last opportunity to ask the man in the red suit for Christmas magic.

"Toys or probably clothes," said Maliyah Woodward Smith, of West Philadelphia.

That same last-minute energy carried over to the Christiana Mall in Delaware, where shoppers raced the clock to grab those final gifts before stores closed.

"I got something for my sisters, I got something for my older sister and then some for my younger sister," said Zechariah Johnson.

For some, Christmas Eve was about wrapping things up, while for others, it was finally time to get started.

"I had no time to go shopping, so now is the time to put the finishing touches for my family to make Christmas special for y'all," said Antoine Mapp, of West Philadelphia.

And once those gifts are finally in hand, there's still one more job to tackle, wrapping them up. With stores closing and Christmas just hours away, the countdown is officially on.