Despite the ominous skies and predicted rain the weather managed to hold out for the 14th annual Rotary Springfest on Sunday, which saw around 30,000 punters from Ballarat and beyond descend on Lake Wendouree.
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The event organised by the Rotary Club of Ballarat saw 450 stalls cover all six kilometres of the perimeter of the lake.
While at its inception in 2001 the event was a basic market, it has since grown to include attractions such as vintage car exhibitions and the tram-pull competition.
Member of the Rotary Executive Committee Greg Honeyman said the event was run by over 100 volunteers and had grown to such a size it may be the largest market day in the southern hemisphere.
“Even though we don’t have enough budget to advertise it heavily...word still gets out.”
Buses ran around the lake every five minutes to transport the thousands of punters around Lake Wendouree.
The event was one the Rotary club’s main yearly fundraisers, and money raised from the event was then used to help fund other charities which were unable to source funds themselves.
In 2015 Rotary was hoping to raise in excess of $100,000 after successfully raising $76,000 at their 2014 event.
“We’re looking for those small volunteer organisations like us who don’t have access to huge amounts of funds.”
Attractions which proved a hit with the crowds included the annual dragon boat race on the lake, as well as the children’s wunderfest.
2015 was the first year boutique clothing and jewellery seller Carissa Simunovic had ran a stall at Springfest, but said markets provided the perfect environment for selling her wares.
“We’ve had quite a few customers come to us and we’ve made a few sales.”
Mum Madeleine Kenton and her two sons were also among the thousands of attendees at the lake.
Mrs Kenton said she had been attending the event for the past 10 years.
“It’s very family orientated, and it’s a bit of fun to get out of the house.”
Springfest director Robert Glass said the crowd response had been exceptional and the event had proven to be a major success financially, particularly the club raffle which offered a $5000 travel voucher and $700 of luggage.
“(The crowds were) all pretty impressed and the weather’s been kind to us which has been great.”
