People might have to wait for quite some time for the traditional Good Friday fish, and some stores have done a roaring trade arranging pre-orders to help beat the crowds.

At Northway Fish House, owner Shaun Li put up signs advertising pre-orders about three weeks ago, and he reckons the demand for Good Friday orders hasn't stopped since.

"We're taking orders in time slots so people can be ready to grab their orders on time," he said, smiling, adding this will be his second Good Friday rush in Ballarat North.

"I organised all the staff one or two days ago, we'll start early but not ridiculously early - some shops might start at 7am, but we just start maybe an hour or an hour and a half early."

"It's very hectic all day."

The sentiment's echoed by Soula Skordos, from Redan's Blue Sea's Fish Shop on Skipton Street.

She's been at the shop for six and a half years, but she's been in the industry in Ballarat for 31 years.

There's repeat customers that come in every year, something she looks forward to.

"It's a very busy day for us, it's a hard day, but it's good," she said.

"We'll work through Easter and usually take Monday off."

Over in Brown Hill, Dianne Slate from Brown Hill Fish and Chips described Good Friday as "crazy".

"We're expecting a big one, we've had quite a few pre-orders," she said.

"We might take Saturday off because we might be knackered."

Public transport

V/Line services will run to a Sunday timetable on Good Friday, and an altered Saturday timetable on Monday.

Evening services to and from the city will be replaced with coaches due to line works from Saturday night.

Supermarkets

All major supermarkets will be closed on Good Friday.

The Cellarbrations on Sturt Street will also be closed, and many supermarkets will have modified hours on Easter Monday.

Shopping centres

Central Square, Delacombe Town Centre, and Stockland Wendouree will all be closed on Good Friday.

Opening hours for many shops across the long weekend may be changed.

Pharmacies

The UFS Sturt Street pharmacy will remain open 24 hours a day across the weekend, and the nurse service will be available every day from 6pm to 10pm.

All other UFS pharmacies will be closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, with some closed on Easter Saturday.

Eureka Medical Centre and the pharmacy will be open from 8am to 10pm on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Priceline pharmacies across town will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, except for the Sturt Street pharmacy, which is open from 8am to 9pm every day.

Terry White Chemmart Northway will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, with regular weekend hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Nova Pharmacy Wendouree will be closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday and Monday, and will be open Saturday from 9am to midday.

Crawford's Pharmacy will be closed on Good Friday, and open 10am to 2pm on Easter Monday.

Chemist Warehouse will be open from 10am to 5pm on every day except Easter Saturday, which will be open for its normal hours.

Banks

All major banks will be closed from Friday to Monday, reopening Tuesday.

Attractions

The Ballarat Wildlife Park and Sovereign Hill will be open from 9am to 5pm.

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