A mall in Washington State is accepting the Canadian dollar at par on long weekends, in an attempt to lure Canadians across the border despite the low loonie.

More than a dozen stores and restaurants at the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham, Washington will be offering the deal on Canadian long weekends throughout the summer. The town is located about an hour's drive from B.C.'s Lower Mainland.

The town has historically relied heavily on Canadian shoppers who cross the border in search of a great deal. But with the Canadian currency falling to historic lows over the past year, there have been fewer and fewer Canadian licence plates visible in store parking lots, said Greg Boos, a member of the Bellingham chamber of commerce's cross-border committee.

"This is a great plan," he told CTV News Channel.

"I have a feeling it's going to be like old times in Bellingham, we're going to have a greater number of Canadian shoppers at the mall and elsewhere and in addition many of them will decide to stay overnight, they'll book hotel rooms and eat at local restaurants. It's going to be a win-win, the shoppers will get more bang for their buck and Bellingham will get a shot in the arm."

While the promotion has been in place since March, the next opportunity for Canadians to enjoy the discount is on the upcoming Victoria Day weekend, May 21 to 23.

The loonie is currently worth approximately 77 cents US.

Boos said Bellingham's economy is diverse and vibrant, but the Canadian shopper has always been an "important component" of the local economy over the years.

He said some local golf courses, the ski hill and a number of individual businesses have historically offered their products and services at par to Canadian patrons, but said this is the first time a group of merchants have joined forces to do so.