SpringFest’s plan B boosts groups and business

AS soon as SpringFest wraps up each November, the Rotary Club of Ballarat gets to work on the next year’s event.

SpringFest director, Robert Glass said the committee builds up the festival’s iconic image and profile within Ballarat and surrounds as much as possible.

After 20 years of the event, COVID-19 means the Market Sunday at Lake Wendouree can’t run in 2020, but Mr Glass said it was still important SpringFest remained at the fore of the city’s minds.

“When the possibility came up to run a plan B online, and keep the name out there, we leapt at the opportunity, so that’s why we’re running our 2020 Ultimate SpringFest Online Raffle,” he said.

“Even if COVID restrictions eased, we’d still have to run it on a much smaller scale, and we didn’t want to detract from the SpringFest experience.

“We want people to maintain the memory and image of it last year, which was a great day with 35,000 people there, rather than potentially causing any COVID-19 safety issues, or an outbreak.”

The committee was also mindful of supporting their community partners, Ballarat Chinese Dragon Boat Club, Bungaree Primary School, Miners Rest Primary School and Kindergarten, Mount Egerton Primary School, and Phoenix P-12 Community College, and local and international initiatives of the Rotary Club of Ballarat.

Mr Glass said they’re delighted to offer an alternative, where otherwise it could have been a “non-event.”

“SpringFest is a community service project to raise funds for local groups, and give a range of people a great opportunity to showcase their wares,” Mr Glass said.

“By going with a raffle, we’re still giving those that would have been stallholders the opportunity to show their products, and the public can see more about the individual businesses when they enter online.

“It keeps their names in front of the general public, and ensures our community partners remain connected. With the completely new approach, they’ll still get something out of it that will help them along.”

Just over 500 stallholders registered for SpringFest Market Sunday this year. About 150 businesses are part of the Ultimate SpringFest Online Raffle.

Visit ballaratspringfest.com.au.