Both local residents and businesses are embracing the Lacombe and District Chamber of Commerce's Passport to Christmas program which works to boost local holiday spending, and reward people for shopping local.

The program kicked off two weeks ago, 15,000 passports were printed and they've just about all been given out according to Helen Peck with the program.

Peck says they see more and more participation every year.

“We had over 2.1 million dollars spent locally last year in the program and we’re kind of hoping for 3 million this year and we have a huge amount of businesses this year, over 74”.  We had 64 last year, I think the year previous was only 48, it’s phenomenal, we’re over the moon with the participation this year”.

There’s a wide range of businesses taking part, and not just in Lacombe, Peck says they have several unique shops in Bentley on board too.

“The kite shop and Bentley Cycle and florists and boutiques, antique shops, so there is just a huge variety”.

As part of Lacombe's Light Up the Night Festival and Moonlight Madness, it's double stamp night tonight.

Once you've filled up your passport, drop it in a draw box at a participating business and you'll be in the running for three ‘Lacombe Bucks’ prizes to spend at those businesses, top prize is $1500, there's even $250 up for grabs in a draw of incomplete passports.

You have until December 15th to collect stamps and enter passports, with 4 winners to be drawn right here at Sunny 94.1 FM on December 22nd.

Passports are available at participating businesses or you can download one from Lacombe Chamber.