Shop, sip and socialise under the stars

THE Moonlight Market will fill Hargreaves Mall with all the tastes, sounds and smells Bendigo has been craving in a one-off event from 5pm on 8 May.

Founder and organiser Linda Whillance said she was excited to welcome people back to the event and give them the opportunity to indulge on a night out.

“We created Moonlight Market out of a desire to create a meeting space for our community and to bring vibrancy and life to our city,” she said.

“It’s a chance for people to come together in a safe place and feel like a part of our community and create fabulous memories.

“We appeal to a broad audience, having lots of families and people of all ages. It’s been heart-warming over the years to see a lot of elderly people coming out and enjoying our event as well.”

This year’s market will look a little different to previous ones and Ms Whillance said she was sad she could not welcome back regular stallholders who suffered through lockdown.

“One of the biggest challenges is that some of our stallholders who have been with us since the beginning are no longer operating,” she said.

“The restrictions and event closures have meant that they’ve had to walk away from their businesses.”

“On a positive note, having time off has enabled us to look at things with fresh eyes and try new things. One major change is that we have now licensed the entire mall, as opposed to a small area that we used to fence off for the bar in the middle.

“We’ve had many requests for this over the years and are excited about offering this experience.”

Local painters will join the festivities, and live music will be on show in collaboration with the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.

“Our night market is so much more than just having a bite to eat and a chance to shop. It’s about having fun, a chance to go out and explore, providing a platform for people to meet family and friends and have a wonderful experience together,” Ms Whillance said.

Search Moonlight Market Bendigo on Facebook for more information.