Beginning Friday at 12:01 a.m. and continuing through Sunday, shoppers can purchase certain items without paying sales tax.

Clothing, footwear and school supplies costing $100 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item, computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item will be exempt, according to the state's annual holiday.

Stores are also offering sales and discounts to entice consumers into buying everything from SpongeBob Squarepants lunch boxes to shin guards for the upcoming school year.

The Belk's department store at Pinecrest Plaza is expecting a large crowd this weekend, said General Manager Gordon Willis.

"Yeah we've got a big weekend coming up, we always have a big weekend on tax holiday," he said. "We have a lot of people that will come to us from other areas, Rockingham, Laurinburg, that will come for the weekend to do their shopping," he continued. "We're looking at 20 percent more customers than on a normal weekend."

See Wednesday's Pilot and ThePilot.com for the full story.