Filling the festival void

By Matt Romania

The unexpected cancellation of the 2023 Strawberry and Cherry Festival left many Bacchus Marsh residents disappointed.

Now, on a more positive note, the not-for-profit group, MooraFun, is stepping in to fill the void on 18-19 November with an alternative: “Spring Fest,” set to be held at Maddingley Park, and the organisers are eager to keep the festival spirit alive.

“Feedback on the (Bacchus Marsh) residents page when the organiser of the Strawberry and Cherry Festival cancelled made us want to step up and bring something to town, so our community wasn’t left out again,” said Dotty Hazell, Market Manager at MooraFun.

The new event promises familiar elements like markets, food, and entertainment, offering something for locals as well as festival-goers who typically visit Bacchus Marsh on the third weekend of November.

“In a sense, it will be similar,” said Ms Hazell.

Funding for the event will primarily come from stallholder fees, covering necessities such as waste removal, park fees, shuttle buses, fireworks, and prizes. Local businesses are also stepping up to support, including a generous $500 pledge from Eco Timber.

Additionally, MooraFun has started a GoFundMe campaign for a proposed fireworks display, with the aim to offer the spectacle without an entry fee.

“A rough estimate of $3,300 for a 10-minute show” said Dotty, sharing on their fundraising page that “any funds raised over and above our goal and/or final invoice will go towards other events within Moorabool that we run.”

As for the event’s attractions, attendees can look forward to amusement rides, music, food, an animal farm, and potentially, some fun competitions. The team say they’re considering a shuttle bus service between Maddingley Park and the Avenue of Honour fruit farms.

An essential element for the success of such larger scale events is of course volunteer support. MooraFun welcomes anyone who would like to join the event group.

“If people even offer an hour or two on the day, it would be greatly appreciated,” Ms Hazell said.

As the MooraFun volunteers set event planning to ‘express’ with November coming up fast, the call for vendors is out too:

“We are currently looking for local market and food vendors to join us either for one or both days.”

For those keen on tracking the progress of Spring Fest, or to get involved visit MooraFun’s website: https://www.moorafun.org.au