With only 25 sleeps until Christmas Day arrives, now is the peek time for present shopping.

A collaboration between Tourism Moree, Moree Plains Shire Council and Moree Chamber of Commerce has boosted interest for residents to shop locally before looking else where.

The ‘Moree Christmas Guide- Your Passport to Local Businesses and Services’ was officially launched this morning, just in time for late night shopping tonight from 5-9pm.

The guide includes special deals and discounts from more than 120 local stores in town. Shoppers can either take the guide in with them, or mention the deals at the checkout.

Many local businesses are also boasting special weekly deals to entice local and regional residents to shop about in the coming weeks.

During the launch mayor Katrina Humphries said the guide was one of the best initiatives in the past 20 years undertaken to boost shopping in Moree.

“When we first started working on this we thought if we got 30 it would be fabulous. With great pride we have 122 businesses that have come on board,” she said.

The Christmas guide can be found in store at every participating business and at Tourism Moree. The team can also email digital copies of the booklet to residents outside the town limits.

Dibs Cush, representing Moree Chamber of Commerce, said the guide and tonight’s late night shopping event went hand in hand.

“The streets of Moree will come alive with live music, extended opening hours, nibbles, champagne and much more. We hope to see everyone out and about,” she said.  

Cr Humphries agreed, adding the guides were all a “reward for our locals”.

“For many years we’ve done passports for our visiting groups and this is a reward for our local community. Businesses have a few value added opportunities for shopping in Moree.”