Residents flocked to Red Bank for the town's 27th annual tree lighting Friday.

Small business owners say it's also an important event for the shops along Broad Street.

"It's just an opportunity to expose all the different shops and retailers that Red Bank has to offer this holiday season," says Jim Scavone, Executive Director of Red Bank RiverCenter.

Scavone says there are over 15,000 lights in the trees in Red Bank. They start putting them up at the end of October and stay lit through March.