Bumper stickers that entitle drivers to free parking will be available from available from Horsham businesses, Horsham Rural City Council Civic Centre, and the Wimmera CMA offices,

The free parking in CBD on February 24 will be as part of the national Tidy Towns judging day.

Parking space time limits will still apply.

Horsham council Mayor Pam Clarke said the initiative aimed to bring more people into the CBD as judging takes place for the prestigious national award.

“We hope that by offering free parking on the day we’ll attract more people into the city centre to show what a dynamic and vibrant place Horsham is,” she said.

“We want the judge to get a true sense of what it’s like to live in our beautiful town and to see the pride we take in being Horsham residents.”

Horsham won the Environmental Education Award at the 2016 Tidy Town awards.

Business Horsham’s Wendy Mitchell said joint efforts such as this were essential to making the city a unique destination for generations to come.

“Imagine our businesses having the opportunity to promote their business as being located in Australia’s Tidiest Town,” she said.

“We can already boast Victoria’s Tidiest Town 2015-16 so this would be icing on the cake for promotion of Horsham as a livable city for those looking to relocate.”

Tidy Towns judge Jill Grant will tour Horsham’s 2017 entries including the Men’s Shed, the May and Millar Wagon, and the Christian Emergency Food Bank.

National Tidy Towns award winners will be announced on May 12 at Triabunna, Australia’s Tidiest Town for 2016.

The Tidy Towns free parking day is a combined initiative of Horsham Rural City Council, the Horsham Tidy Towns committee, Business Horsham, and The Wimmera Mail Times.