Thousands of locals attended a festive Chinatown on a recent balmy Thursday evening for the inaugural Chinatown Christmas Party.

Supported by Chinatown traders, many kept their shops open until 9pm.

The Broome Shire also erected a fantastic display of lights and baubles, including those on a prominent Carnarvon Street boab tree which has continued to delight the community in the countdown to Christmas.

Street party host Spirit 102.9 Kimberley manager Sabine Scherl said the night was such a success, a date had already been set for next year, Thursday, December 5, 2013.

“We’ve had great feedback, especially from the shops,” she said.

“There were people who had never been in some of these shops because they are normally only open from nine to five.