WAGGA'S holiday season has truly begun after Wagga City Council unwrapped six giant Christmas windows in the central business district yesterday morning.
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It comes as part of the council's Christmas trail program that looks to entice more people to visit the city's centre and take part in festivities, all while supporting local businesses.
Visitor economy and events coordinator Fiona Hamilton said the council hopes the festivities will be "a great way" to finish-off what has been "a pretty awful year for most people".
This year's festive decorations include, not only the festive windows displays, but an augmented reality Christmas trail, fairy lights along Fitzmaurice Street and the Civic Centre's Christmas star.
It will also be the very first Christmas where the entire tree at the Victory Memorial Gardens will be fully lit up.
"(The program) is a trial, but if it works we will hopefully bring it back next year and it will be bigger and better," she said.
In other news:
Wagga mayor Greg Conkey said the council has also encouraged businesses to open for late-night shopping on Friday for the three weeks leading up to Christmas.
He said the goal will be to create a festive atmosphere by opening for longer hours, moving shops out onto the footpath and bringing live music to the area.
"It is starting to feel a lot like Christmas. We have had a really tough year, so we are launching some of the Christmas festivities for the central business district," he said.
"We are encouraging people in the lead up to Christmas to come down and have a look at the window displays and the lights we have up here, which really brings to life this area."