SpringFest set to bloom

PLANNING for the 2018 edition of SpringFest is well underway and organisers have announced this year’s ambassador.

Power FM’s Jules Zass will once again take on the role of championing the festival that encompasses all of Lake Wendouree.

“I’ve been the ambassador for SpringFest a couple of times now and I absolutely love it because it is such a wonderful community event,” she said.

“It’s a great day out for families, but as well as that it’s a real opportunity to see what a good community vibe we have here in Ballarat.”

While Ms Zass doesn’t get an embassy or diplomatic relations with other festivals, there are some perks to the job.

“I have been given the privilege to ride around in a golf cart, which is a little bit like royalty, just doing the rounds, because you have to do as many laps as possible and get around to as many stalls as possible,” she said.

As an experienced SpringFest attendee, Ms Zass has a tip for first timers and novices.

“I would advise don’t eat breakfast, come on an empty stomach because there are so many wonderful food vendors around the entire 6km and you really can have a whole wonderful day here,” she said.

“So you can have something to eat, a nice coffee, you can see some market stalls… you can wonder to all the other activates but just really pace yourself so you can take it all in and enjoy it.”

Stalls for this year’s SpringFest sold out in record time with all the spaces snapped up within three weeks of becoming available.

Along with almost 500 market stalls from across the state and even further afield organizers say the event will offer a wide range of activities for people of all ages.

They include the Peter Stevens MG Show-n-Glow and Vintage Car Display, Petstock’s Pet Corner, Sovereign Hill’s Mini Township and the RACV Goldfields Resort Children’s Wunderfest.

“Children’s Wunderfest will have a number of activities in the area,” organiser Rob Munro said.

“Ballarat Men’s Shed will run a barbeque, Bunnings will do potting, where kids can make a little pot plant, and there’ll also be face painting.

“The whole idea is to make it as active as possible and colorful. The kids love coming and making something and then taking it away.”

SpringFest director, Rob Glass, said a highlight of the festival will be grand parade involving all the vehicles from the Show-n-Glow.

“Because we have to close the road around the one way, we have an avenue to bring all the cars out and let them do one big circuit at around 3.30pm,” Mr Glass said.

“A big passing out parade is a good way to put it.” SpringFest is put on by the Rotary Club of Ballarat and the plan is that money raised will go towards Ballarat Regional Industries along with other recipients.

But more than that, Mr Munro said many community groups used the event to raise funds for their activities.

“A lot of the local organisations do get a stall and that gives them the opportunity to raise funds,” he said.

“So lots of groups, scouting groups and other groups, often have barbeques et cetera, so it’s a really good opportunity to raise fund on the day.”

SpringFest is set for Sunday, 25 November, around, and on, Lake Wendouree.