SpringFest marks 30 years of community spirit

NEXT weekend will see SpringFest Ballarat celebrate thirty years of supporting community groups through their Market Sunday event and charitable donations.

The annual market day will return on Sunday 30 November from 10am to 4pm in the Lake Wendouree gardens precinct.

There will be more than 450 stalls, live music and entertainment, kids’ activities, and community showcases, and all money raised will support community groups.

This year’s beneficiaries are Ballarat High School, Cafs Ballarat, Miners Rest Primary School and Kindergarten, Phoenix P-12 Community College, and community and international projects of the Rotary Club of Ballarat.

In celebration of three decades, the event will be returning to its roots with Ballarat Clarendon College acting as a key partner.

The school created SpringFest before it was adopted by the Rotary Club of Ballarat.

“SpringFest has always been about community, connection, and supporting those who need it most,” Rotary Club of Ballarat’s SpringFest co-director Robert Glass said.

“Having Ballarat Clarendon College back on board in our 30th year is incredibly special.

“Their contribution through the milk drive and the new stage activation truly embodies the spirit of SpringFest.”

In the lead up to the festival, the school is running a one-litre milk drive, encouraging the community to donate long life milk directly to The SoupBus.

“We’re all very keen to help out in the community with a big issue in the community,” said student and sustainability committee member Sofia said.

“We know that [the SoupBus] take a lot of milk and so we are trying to address the areas with the most need.”

Ballarat Clarendon College will also host the new stage in the South Gardens with performances from performing arts students across the event.

For more information, visit the SpringFest website.