Frankton will see a night of historic firsts on December 14 when the Saturday markets trial a night market and retailers stay open till 9pm.
Billed as a Multi Cultural Christmas - a celebration of ethnic diversity with music, food and dance - the market trial and late shop opening will be joined by Forlongs' department store.
Market co-ordinator Vinod Bhikha says the 4pm till 9pm night markets are an innovation for Frankton. He says the Saturday 8am till 1pm market will be staged as usual on the day.
He says the new night market has been embraced by Hamilton City Council as part of the city's Christmas features and will be promoted as a festive event.
But he cautions the night market and extended shopping hours are part of a trial.
"We will all sit down and analyse the results after the initial foray," he says.
"Depending on the response night markets could be a regular event in the new year."
He says an approach has been made to the Waikato Filipino community to use the trial as a fundraiser aimed at easing the suffering caused by the recent cyclone.
Mr Bhikha says organisers, stallholders and retailers will be exploring all possibilities after December 14.
He and Terry Forlong said late shopping hours and night markets were all part of a process to create and maintaina lively Frankton market and a vibrancy in the shopping precinct.
Mr Forlong says it will be the first late Saturday night trading experience for Forlongs' store at Christmas.
"We are planning a bold promotion which I can't divulge at this time," he says.
"We plan to make it an event and see where we go from there. I want it to be the best promotion of the year."
Frankton Butchery owner Jim Ashton says there is good buy-in from fellow retailers. "The butchery will be open and although it is early days, we are getting good feedback from other shop owners," he says.