The best of the best combine for first Christmas market

THE best of local food and craft will combine this weekend in Ocean Grove for the first Christmas Makers’ Market.

After six years of running the Bellarine Community Farmers’ Market (BCFsM), owner Sally Waites decided to fully embrace the festive season by shaking things up and hosting the event.

“Christmas is all about giving, family and food, so I thought, what could be a better way to celebrate than to bring the best of local food together with the best of local craft,” Mrs Waites said.

The market will provide a one-stop shop for locals and visitors alike to buy all those last minute presents from small local businesses, be it a hamper of quality artisan food or the variety of beautifully crafted handmade pieces to choose from.

“We’ve always supported the ‘little guys’ at the market so this is a fantastic way to keep our hard-earned dollars within the community by buying local, and ticking off your Christmas list as well – it’s a win-win for all involved,” she said.

Along with all the usual fresh produce stalls plus food and coffee vans, the Christmas Makers’ Market will have a charity hamper raffle located at the Shared Community Stall, full of donated goods from the stallholders with all proceeds going toward the Light of Day Parkinson’s group.

“We always donate our Christmas raffle dollars towards a local charity, and the guys in our local Light of Day group will also be down to cook up a storm on the barbecue with a sausage sizzle to raise some more dollars.”

The crowds will be entertained with more local talent from the Open Mic Buskers tent and the Ocean Grove Primary School school choirs, plus Bellarine Kids and A Frog in a Pond craft tent will be on the park to keep the young ones happy as well.

“Christmas can be a great time of year, I’ve always loved our own family traditions and the lead up to the 25th, so I hope this event will put forth some of that sparkle into everyone’s day.

“We hope to see a big turn out and if it goes really well, we may consider more combined markets in the future.”

The BCFsM Christmas Makers’ Market is on this Saturday at Ocean Grove Park (corners of Draper and Hodgson streets, The Avenue and Presidents Ave), from 9am to 1pm.

For more information, phone 0418 141 208, email [email protected], or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Click here for more on the BCFsM.