Police and council leaders have pledged to keep Luton town centre "protest-free" when two demonstrations are held later.
Thousands of demonstrators are expected in the town when the English Defence League (EDL) and United Against Fascism (UAF) stage events.
Road closures will apply but protesters will be kept away from the main shopping area and St George's Square.
Luton Borough Council said the town would "stay open for business".
A similar event in February 2011, which culminated in a gathering in the central St George's Square, was estimated to have cost businesses £1m.
This year, the EDL will be congregating in the Park Street and Church Street area while the counter-demonstration, We Are Luton, which will include UAF supporters, will meet in Wardown Park and march in a circuit down the New Bedford Road (A6) and back to the park.
Town centre shops, including those in The Mall, are being encouraged to stay open for business wherever possible.
'Minimise disruption'However, shoppers will see a heavy police presence, with between 1,000 and 1,500 officers on duty in the town.
Ch Supt Mike Colbourne, from Bedfordshire Police, said: "We have listened very closely to the community around the impacts last year and we are now working very hard to maintain a protest-free town centre which minimises the disruption to the business life of the community but also enables that balance so that protesters can have their voice heard."
Key roads including the A6 and Park Street and some smaller roads leading to the town centre will be closed to traffic but open to pedestrians from 07:00 BST until the end of the events at approximately 15:00.
The New Bedford Road (A6) and Telford Way will also be closed to traffic from 11:30 to 15:00 with short-term closure of the Dunstable Street junction with Telford Way.
Diversion routes will be in place and there will also be some restrictions on buses and taxis.
Full details are on the Bedfordshire Police website.
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