Port Douglas is gearing up for a festive evening with its Christmas Late Night Shopping Night on Thursday, November 28. Local stores will extend their hours until 7.30pm, offering an array of special offers, a local raffle, drinks and complementary gift wrapping.

The event, spearheaded by Raine Ward from Maker, aims to capture the charm of small-town life by bringing business owners and the community together for a memorable evening.

“Last year was overshadowed by destruction and recovery, with not much Christmas spirit,” Ms Ward said.

“This is a way to bring the community together again, support local businesses, and give back. It’s been a tough year with recovery from floods, the cost of living, and competition from big Black Friday sales. We want to make Christmas a bit easier for everyone.”

Adding to the festive spirit, a Christmas tree at the end of Macrossan Street will be lit up, setting the perfect holiday scene for the night. The night will feature a local raffle to encourage shopping.

“For every $20 spent in-store, you get a ticket into the raffle,” Ms. Ward explained. “At the end of the night, we’ll draw three or four winners, with prizes consisting of $30 vouchers donated by participating businesses. Winners could walk away with 10 or more vouchers each!”