The town of Chapel Hill is encouraging residents to shop local as the holidays are upon us, by implementing new parking rules that started on Thanksgiving and will be going through December.

Parking is going to be free all of December on Saturdays during the day at all town-owned parking lots. Metered parking is included, but with a two-hour time limit. After 5:00 P.M., normal rates will be charged at Wallace deck and at the Rosemary/Columbia lot.

All public parking is free on December 24 and December 31.

The program has been implemented in recent years in December and expanded earlier this year to include free parking on Saturdays in July.

Click here for a map and a list of parking options.