Recent EDL protests have taken place in Bolton and Rochdale Up to 6,000 people are expected at rival protests between the English Defence League (EDL) and their opponents in Blackburn later.
Lancashire Police are gearing up for their biggest ever operation for the demonstrations on Saturday.
Areas of the town centre have been closed to the general public during the protests and a number of road closures will be in place.
Ch Supt Bob Eastwood said any violence or damage would not be tolerated.
Mr Eastwood has described policing the demonstrations as Lancashire Police’s biggest ever operation.
The force said said it had been necessary to restrict numbers to 3,000 from each side for the “safety of the community”.
The police have no powers to ban a peaceful public assembly or protest, but can impose conditions such as where it takes place and the number of people who can attend.
A Lancashire Police spokeswoman said it was up to the organisers to ensure greater numbers did not turn up on the day.
The EDL is demonstrating outside King George’s Hall on Northgate from 1245 to 1345 BST, while the group, Blackburn and Darwen Unite Against Racism (BADUAR) will meet between 1300 and 1500 BST at Sudell Cross, about 150m (490ft) away.
Both sides will be kept apart in cordoned off areas away from the general public.
Some roads will be affected, including temporary closures, but officials said they were working hard to make sure that people could “go about their daily business as usual”.
The main Mall shopping centre is open for business as usual, but a number of smaller traders have told the BBC they are not opening.
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