KNOXVILLE (WATE) – How early is too early? If you’ve been out running errands lately, chances are you’ve seen a lot of Christmas decorations out, even though it’s only early November.

Snowflakes, Santa and sweaters all decorate the aisles of JC Penney in Turkey Creek.

“Well they’re pretty,” said shopper Patti Wiles.

It’s only been two days since Halloween.

“We started putting our Christmas decorations up the day after Halloween,” said Tracey Hitson, store manager of JC Penney.

It takes three to four days for employees at Hitson’s store to get every wreath and decoration up.

“Honestly, people expect to see Christmas decorations in November in retail stores. A lot of stores started in October,” said Hitson.

For some, it’s right and even helpful to start so early to get in the right frame of mind for the holidays.

“I like to shop early because I have a lot of shopping to do, get it all done,” said shopper Sarah Daniels.

Others, like Patti Wiles, don’t see it that way.

“I just feel like it’s a little soon, but it gets earlier every year,” she said.

The music in most stores hasn’t changed yet.

“We’ll probably have a little Christmas like every other song or every fourth or fifth song, and then really kick it in during the Thanksgiving week,” said Hitson.

Front yards in Knox County haven’t changed either.

“She says as soon as I get home, we’re putting up the Christmas tree, doing Christmas shopping. I was like, ‘All right, great,’ ” said shopper Lindia Skaggs.

Time is flying by and the holidays will be here before we know it.

“Should be like this all the time you know, merry, joyful,” said Skaggs.

Christmas lights are already strung along trees in downtown Knoxville. Crews started decorating in mid-October.

According to the National Retail Federation, about 40 percent of shoppers start buying for the holidays each year before Halloween. Some stores even stock shelves with things like decorations and greeting cards as early as September to spread out shopping and spending.