There will be a ''buzz'' in Wanaka when part of the town centre is closed for night markets this year, event co-ordinator Rebecca Brosnahan says.
The Wanaka Community Trust has the Queenstown Lakes District Council's approval to close lower Helwick St, between Dunmore and Ardmore Sts, from 3pm until 9pm on August 20 and 27 and October 1 and 8.
There would be live music, food trucks and stalls run by crafts people and local businesses, Miss Brosnahan said.
The application for council consent to hold the markets said ''the aim ... is to keep visitors and locals in the CBD after their winter activities on the skifields and feed business to the stores, bars and restaurants ... creating a memorable winter resort atmosphere and encouraging return tourism ...''
The street markets will be run in conjunction with the weekly winter markets, which began last week.
The winter markets have been organised by the Light Up Wanaka group and involve the Wanaka Farmers Market and other stallholders selling their wares in lower Ardmore St, opposite the Dinosaur Park, on Thursdays from 4pm until 8pm.
The farmers market used to be held in Spencer House mall during winter.
As usual, it will return to Pembroke Park for summer.
The Light Up Wanaka group is trying to create a festive atmosphere in central Wanaka throughout winter. Nearly 100 businesspeople have bought sets of ''fairy lights'' through the group. The lights were strung up and turned on last weekend.
