Apple Fair returns to Ocean Grove

OCEAN Grove Primary School’s major fundraiser returns in 2025, with the Apple Fair taking place next weekend.

On Sunday, March 16, the local school will come alive with food stalls, including the popular bake sale, live entertainment, a silent auction, carnival rides and more.

Free activities will also take place throughout the day with a circus, rock scavenger hunt and free crafts on offer.

Last held in 2023, the event is popular among the Bellarine community, with school staff, students and parents, pushing for the return of the event in 2025.

Local parent and Apple Fair convener Adele Smith said the organising committee has put in a lot of hours and effort to bring the fair back.

Pip the Apple Fair mascot is gearing up for the return of the event.

“After COVID, there was the potential of not bringing it back, but the kids were so excited to have it back that us parents gathered together and made it happen,” she said.

“There’s a vibe in the air at the school; we were cleaning out the fair shed and the kids walking past were so excited. It makes it all worth it.”

As part of this year’s fair, organisers have introduced their own reusable tableware system where attendees can scrape their food into buckets for volunteers to wash the dishes before returning them to the vendors.

Amusement rides will be part of the entertainment throughout the fair.

“The idea behind it is that we create our own system, we use it at our Apple Fair, but also offer it for other schools and community organisations to use,” Ms Smith said.

“It’s a big job, it’s a lot of work, but the feedback from the 2023 fair was that the community was really grateful that we’re putting in the low waste effort for the event.”

Funds raised through the event will go towards replacing the school’s 40-year old playground that is no longer fit-for-purpose.

Ms Smith thanked the school and the wider community for their support in bringing the event to life in 2025.

The event has been organised by parents with students volunteering for different roles throughout the fair.

“Without the local businesses donating to the silent auction and the food and stores, we wouldn’t be able to have the Apple Fair. We’re very grateful to the community.”

The fair will run from 11am until 4pm.

For more information, head to the Ocean Grove Apple Fair page on Facebook.