The town’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has received permission to close off a block of Byron Street for the Festival of Christmas Lights.

The evening from 5-9pm is planned to provide shoppers and browsers a chance to catch a hefty dose of holiday fever and community engagement.

“Basically, we want to encourage all shops to do a late-night trade that night instead of our usual Thursday night and Sunday,” Chamber president Courtney Pay said.

“We’re going to use this night as our one big one.”

Open shops will be framed by local buskers, market stalls and food vans to join in the spirit of the season.

“We’ve actually handed out flyers to all the stalls at the markets, all the market vendors to come down,” Courtney said.

“We’re going to take the busking competition all the way down Byron and Otho Streets.”

The best adult busker will receive $250 and top junior busker will win $150.

Adult colouring books are now the rage, and grown-ups will have their own section in the festival’s colouring-in competition.

The competition sponsored by Vince Strang, Inverell and District Family Services, Freckles, FDB’s, The Dust Jacket and Campbell and Freebairn has seven age categories.

Pictures are available at the sponsor premises and by request through the Chamber Facebook page.

Santa and Mrs Claus have Inverell in the diary for the night to pass out lollies and pose for photos with local children.

“And we’ll have a jumping castle down there,” Courtney said.

Businesses with the best light and decoration display are in with the chance for a $3000 marketing package, and the best-decorated trade vehicle will receive a four-burner barbecue prize from Bunnings.

“We’d like to see that by the first of December, that will give it a bit of festival atmosphere,” Courtney said.